This is not the best of season for delectable Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson, as gossips within the industry alleged she is on the run over multimillion naira movie project she abandoned after being paid N2million.
The curvy thespian, however, in an exclusive chat with Sahara Weekly, on Monday, January 19, 2015 debunked the ugly tale saying she was shocked by the wicked rumour in circulation. Speaking to us through his Media person, Samuel Olatunji widely known as Bigsam, she said, “I am so shocked and surprised when I heard the story too. There is no iota of truth in it. It’s a lie. The said movie has been completed and released and Mercy Johnson is even on the movie jacket”.
Mercy Johnson Okojie was reported to be on the run from Nigeria Police as she is allegedly wanted for over N2 million unfinished movie debt. A movie marketer, Film Mark Production accused the shapely Kogi State actress of absconding with the money paid to her for a role in a movie which she did not deliver.
Mercy Johnson was paid by the marketer in the first quarter of 2014 and the movie production kicked off production in April. According to reliable sources based on the report, Mercy abandoned the production after featuring in few scenes and absconded with the money she was paid for.
The outraged filmmaker stated that her hotel bills were paid for with extra 33 days because she kept assuring them that she would show up. According to Mark Production, Mercy excused herself to go spend time with her family during the Easter holidays for a few days, but never returned to set.
After it was revealed that Mercy was pregnant for her second child and had gone off to the United States, the filmmaker reported to the police and insisted on getting his money back in order to hire another actress, but Mercy did not oblige. It has been four months since Mercy has her son, yet she has not returned the money and has been too cowardly to return to the country.
Mercy Johnson has built a reputation for herself as one of Nigeria’s most sought after actresses. Last year she was estimated to the highest paid Nigerian actress. Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) threatened to ban the actress for allegedly becoming exorbitant with her fees. She charges nothing less than 2million naira for every movie role including the role she accepted but never delivered.
Mercy Johnson Okojie, popularly known as Mercy Johnson, was born in Lagos on August 28, 1984. She is made her acting debut in the movie, “The Maid where she played the role of a possessed house help. Her performance in the movie shot her into the limelight and she has acted in other movies ever since. Mercy is a native of Okene in Kogi state, and comes from a family of seven children. Mercy reveals she got into the Nigerian movie industry (Nollywood) because she failed her university entrance examinations. Mercy has revealed that growing up was tough and had difficulties paying her school fees most times. She also reveals that she worked as a housemaid to survive. She was one of the inaugural winners at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards 2013 for her role in the comedy film “Dumebi the Dirty Girl”.
She got married to Prince Odianosen Okojie at Christ Embassy Church, Oregun, Ikeja Lagos on Saturday, August 27, 2011. On August 29, 2012, Mercy Johnson’s spokesman officially disclosed to the media about her pregnancy. It was an exciting moment for her fans as there have been several rumours and speculations surrounding her pregnancy. On December 30, 2012, Mercy Johnson delivered a baby girl called Purity in the United States of America. Mercy Johnson shared photos of her baby with her fans as she departed to Nigeria [5] Baby Purity Ozioma Okojie’s thanksgiving ceremony was held in the first week of March 2013. She gave birth to a boy on October 15, 2014.