Ebony-skinned Nollywood diva, Mercy Ozioma Johnson-Okojie in 2011 was entangle with what industry observers termed the most controversial romance of all times.

The 36 years old Okene, Kogi State-born actress found love in Prince Odianosen Okojie, a business man from Edo State.

But Okojie was at that time still legally married to Lovelyn, the mother of his two children - Precious Ofure Okojie, then 5 years old, and Harmony Okpeibbo Okojie, then 3 years old.

The relationship between the actress and the Edo prince was so controversial that it became the talk of the town.

In spite of the controversy, the two lovebirds went ahead to plan their marriage.

Okojie secured a divorce from his wife only 72 hours before his wedding to the Nollywood star.

He divorced the estranged wife on grounds that the marriage had broken down irretrievably owing to Lovelyn’s acts of hostility, hatred, cruelty and quarrelsomeness towards him.

Even with the controversy, the white wedding between the actress and her heartthrob took place a day after her 27th birthday at Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Christ Embassy (Oregun, Lagos) amidst tight security.

It was conducted by the next pastor in seniority, in the absence of the church’s founder.

The officiating minister tactfully avoided an important part of any wedding ceremony whereby a question is always thrown at the audience, asking if there’s anybody against the union before they would be formally joined together as husband and wife.

At the end of the event, Blessing Johnson-Oyegun, one of the actress’ four sisters, told the press in an interview that the event of some weeks back leading to the marriage was “so scary”.

According to her, at a point the family became pessimistic of the whole preparations given the controversy that the marriage plans generated.

“We were so happy that the day turned out a success. It is a wonderful day, though the event that had led to the wedding was so scary. There was a time we were so pessimistic whether the wedding will actually take place. But through fervent prayers and the help of a section of some media, here we are today,” she said.

Wednesday, August 27 made it exactly nine years when the twosome was joined together.

Today the controversial marriage has four offsprings to show. They are:

Purity Ozioma Okojie born December 2012, Henry Okojie born October 15, 2014, Angel Okojie born December 11, 2016 and Divine Mercy Ehinomen Okojie born April 2020.

Curiously, the “Baby Oku” star has not painted the social media red for her marriage anniversary during the week as she had always done in the previous years.

However, her close friend and acting colleague, Chidimma Aneke, took to her Instagram page on Wednesday to celebrate the marriage which has endured nine years.

Posting a picture of the couple in a romantic mood, Aneke wrote:

“Happy wedding anniversary sis @mercyjohnsonokojie. You are awesome, selfless, a great mom and a wonderful wife. You are the best parents in this world. I pray for another 100 years of happy, joyful and amazing married life. God bless you.”