MMM’s website describes the scheme as a circular system where members ‘give help by transferring the money to each other directly’ (Screengrab)

The Mavrodi Mondial Moneybox, the popular Ponzi scheme known as MMM payment suspension for one month was top on Google search this week, an official said on Thursday.

Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Anglophone West Africa, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos.

He said that the search was as from Dec. 7 to 14.

According to him, the week was a period of shocking realities and rumours.

Some of the stories that trended this week included the collapse of a church in Uyo, the rumour of an air crash and the election of a new president in Ghana.

“An air of panic started on the Internet, following the news that popular Ponzi known as MMM is suspending further payment to its existing members for one month.

“The anxiety which has followed the decision has been met with varied reflections by people, who see the suspension as an impending collapse,” Kola-Ogunlade said.

Nominations for the 59th Grammys Award also trended.

Beyonce and Adele topped the list with nine nominations including albums of the year, while Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West got recognised for eight nominations for different songs. And Nigeria’s rave of the moment, Wizkid was also listed for collabo recognition with Drake.

Also popular was leading hitmaker and singer, Tekno, who dropped a new song ‘Rara’.

“The song which is laced with an afrobeat led tune was produced by Selebobo.

“The song moved away from his regular crooning on women and money and the high life, to a reflection on the state of affairs in Nigeria,” he said.

The Google manager said that Ghana’s presidential election saw Nana Akufo-Addo being elected as president and Nigerians went on Google search to support their all-time jollof rice rival.

“The incumbent president of the country, President John Mahama, has conceded defeat to the newly-elected president who was running for the third time this year.

“Mahama expressed his intentions to help him settle into his new job with ease,” he said.

The collapse of the Reigners Bible International Church was also a hot topic on Google.
“The incident led to the death of over 200 people with several others sustaining injuries.

“Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom who was reported to have attended the event, survived with his aide. Authorities are already investigating the incident,” he said.

Kola-Ogunlade said that the Dana Air rumoured plane crash got people’s attention online

“Dana Air came out to deny the report in a newspaper which claimed that one of its plane crashed in Lagos.

“Refuting the report, the management of the airline company expressed that it was a false news, and the pictures used along with the story was of a past incident,” he said.

Other trending stories this week were English Premier League and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr Nnamdi Kanu.

Cristiano Ronaldo who won his fourth Ballon D’Or , as well as the release of the new song, ‘The Ultimate Street Anthem’ by Olamide and Burna Boy, were also popular on Google.

Google Trends launched in May, 2006, allows one to see how popular, search terms and its demography have been over time on Google (NAN)