Nigerian priest convicted in US for sexual!y ass@ulting women seeking spiritual guidance

A United States-based Nigerian Catholic priest, Anthony Odiong, has been convicted by a Texas jury for sexu@lly ass@ulting women who were under his spiritual care.

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The 57-year-old cleric was found guilty of one-count of first-degree sexu@l ass@ult and two counts of second-degree sexu@l assault following a trial in Waco, Texas.

The verdict was delivered on Friday, May 29, by a jury comprising eight women and four men after about two hours of deliberation.

During the trial, two women testified that the priest used his position and influence as a spiritual leader to manipulate them into sexu@l relationships.

Prosecutors told the court that Odiong exploited his role as a Catholic priest to pursue sexu@l relationships with women he was counselling and guiding spiritually.

Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, the priest could face life imprisonment on the first-degree sexu@l ass@ult conviction when sentencing proceedings begin on Monday, June 1.

One of the victims, identified in court documents as Mary Doe, testified that the priest entered into a sexu@l relationship with her while providing spiritual counselling during a difficult period in her divorce. She further told the court that her son once walked in on her and Odiong during sexu@l intercourse at her residence.

Another victim, identified as Jane Doe, testified that the priest pressured her into sexu@l acts while presenting them as part of spiritual guidance. Prosecutors also told the court that DNA test showed Father Odiong fathered one child with another woman in Louisiana who had been under his spiritual direction.

Odiong, a naturalised American citizen, was ordained as a Catholic priest in Nigeria in 1993 before later serving in parishes across Texas and Louisiana.

During the trial, defence lawyers argued that the relationships were consensual. However, prosecutors maintained that the priest abused the authority and trust associated with his position as a member of the clergy.