Nigerian Catholic Priest Convicted in US for Sexually Assaulting Women Under Spiritual Care

A Nigerian-born Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted in the United States after being found guilty of sexually assaulting women under his spiritual care in Texas.

The verdict was delivered by a jury in Waco, made up of eight women and four men, who found him guilty on one count of first-degree sexual assault and two counts of second-degree sexual assault following a trial that lasted several days.

Prosecutors told the court that Odiong abused his position as a clergyman and spiritual adviser to build trust with vulnerable women, before allegedly coercing them into sexual relationships.

The case, which drew attention after earlier reporting and investigations into allegations against him, also included testimony from multiple women who described patterns of manipulation and emotional dependency linked to his role in their spiritual lives.

Odiong, who has consistently denied the allegations, now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, including life imprisonment on the most serious charge when sentencing proceedings begin.

The conviction has reignited wider discussions in the United States about clergy misconduct and the abuse of spiritual authority, particularly in cases involving adult parishioners in vulnerable emotional states.