[Mhiz Rebecca]

The search engine, Google, says that trending
most on its site is the sacking of Joseph Aiyedun, a
pastor with the popular Nigerian church, Omega Fire
Ministries (OFM).
Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications
and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa,
said in a statement in Lagos that the pastor was
sacked for registering with the controversial ponzi
scheme, popularly known as MMM.
He said that the development, according to Google
Trends, topped searches from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18.
Kola-Ogunlade said that the scheme surprised many
operators this year when it resumed its activities after
freezing their accounts for a month.
He said that, MMM on resumption of operations, had
said that it would give priorities to the poor in its give
help (GP) payments, while the rich would have to wait
for some time.
The Google spokesman also said that Nollywood star,
Tontoh Dikeh, seeking for forgiveness from her
colleague, Mercy Johnson, on social media was also
top on Google search this week.
“To err is Tonto Dikeh, to forgive is Mercy Johnson,’’
Kola-Ogunlade had quoted Dikeh as saying.
“Tonto Dikeh went on social media to seek the
forgiveness from Johnson who she insulted four years
ago, for which Johnson replied immediately, telling her
she forgave her wholeheartedly.
“Dikeh has also raised questions on her marriage as
she recently dropped the last name of her husband
and the description ‘wife’ from her social media
page,’’ he said.
The Google manager said that in honouring past
heroes, the release of 257 Boko Haram detainees got
people’s attention online.
“While honouring its fallen heroes at the 2017 Armed
Forces Remembrance Day in Maiduguri, the Nigerian
Army announced the release of 257 Boko Haram
detainees detained by the Borno State Government.
“The detainees were released after investigations
revealed that they had no links with Boko Haram,’’’ he
said.
Kola-Ogunlade said the week became more interesting
when internet users asked if Lindsay Lohan had
converted to Islam.
“News going around on the internet has it that,
popular American actress and singer, Lindsay Lohan,
might be converting to Islam.
“Although Lohan has not made an official statement in
this regard, the actress has deleted her Instagram
account and changed her bio on the social media site,
to read ‘Alaikum salam’.
“Her mother,however, explained in an interview, that
she had not converted to Islam, but is only taking a
break from social media,” he said.
He said that the America’s mega church pastor, Eddie
Long’s death got attention online.
“Long, whose image was stained after he was accused
of sexual coercion by four members of his
congregation, died at age 63.
“The pastor who led the New Birth Missionary Baptist
Church died of stomach cancer. He is survived by his
wife, Vanessa Long, four children and three
grandchildren,’’ Kola-Ogunlade said.
Otondo! Ajuwaya! Get ready for camp, the National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC) made the announcement,
the Google spokesman said.
He said that NYSC revealed that new sets of graduates
would be welcomed for its compulsory orientation
programme this month.
“The 2016 Batch B (Stream II) will begin orientation for
prospective corps members on Jan. 24, and it would
end on Feb. 13. Prospective corps will commence
registration on Jan. 19,’’ he said.
Not the least on its top searches, Kola-Ogunlade said,
was that Google honoured a good woman, a Nigerian
novelist, Florence Nwanzuruahu Nwapa, popularly
known as Flora Nwapa last week.
“Google surprised Nigerians on the internet last week
when it celebrated the 86th posthumous birthday of
Nigerian novelist, Nwapa, with a Google Doodle.
“Nwapa is well-known for ‘Efuru’ her first book, which
is the first book published in English by an African
woman.
“Google Doodles narrates and brings attention to the
day in history, in a fun and cool way,’’ he said.
He said that Chuks Okebata, the murdered US Army
veteran, got people’s attention online.
“The wife of murdered US Army veteran, Chuks
Okebata, who was kidnapped and murdered by yet-to-
be-identified gun men, has affirmed that she is not
guilty of murder.
“This followed the release of a video by the
deceased’s sister, which showed him in a quarrel with
his wife,” he said.
The Google manager said that other trending stories
this week include Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh,
who has insisted he would not step aside for the
inauguration of the newly elected leader, Adama
Barrow.
Other trending stories include surfing to know the
score line for the European Premier League (EPL)
result and AFCON 2017.
Google Trends launched in May 2006, allows one to
see how popular search terms and its demography
have been over time on the search engine.