![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Aston Villa’s Europa adventure in the Conference League continues with an exciting quarter-final tie against Ligue 1 side Lille.
Unai Emery’s men booked their place in the Europa Conference League last eight with a 4-0 thumping of Ajax in their last-16 second leg.
The two sides drew 0-0 in Amsterdam last week but the Premier League outfit were simply too strong at Villa Park.
Star centre forward Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the first half before strikes from Leon Bailey, Jhon Duran and Moussa Diaby after the interval secured an emphatic victory.
Lille beat Sturm Graz 4-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals and currently sit fourth in the French top flight.
Elsewhere, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce meet in a potential classic, the latter enjoying a superb domestic campaign with just one defeat in 29 league outings.
Olympiacos earned their spot in the last eight with a magnificent second-leg comeback against Maccabi Tel Aviv after losing the first leg at home 4-1.
The Greek side won 6-1 yesterday evening, extra-time goals from Stevan Jovetic and Youssef El Arabi securing an unexpected 7-5 aggregate triumph.
