A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, is searching for her Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, 31, after their marriage reportedly collapsed.
Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told UK newspaper The Sun that she wants to divorce Emokpae, whom she accused of leaving their home and blocking her on social media.
The couple, who have a 37-year age difference, met on dating apps in 2021 before marrying at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022.
Ottewell said Emokpae initially introduced himself as a professional in his 30s named Brian Thomas, but later admitted that he was a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria.
Despite the revelation, Ottewell said she forgave him and travelled to Cyprus in March 2022, where they met in person for the first time and got married.
“I know I was a fool, but I was in love,” Ottewell said.
She said she had been lonely and depressed during the pandemic while out of work and dealing with several health issues.
“I was so lonely and depressed during the pandemic. I was out-of-work with several health issues. I was on Universal Credit and living with my daughter Kirsty, 33, who had a 14-month-old baby, but we were arguing all the time.
“When I met Bright, he made me feel special and alive.”
Emokpae later moved to Britain after securing a spouse visa, but Ottewell said their relationship began to deteriorate.
She alleged that he became distant and regularly asked her for money, including funds to send to Nigeria.
“I got all-new furniture, and he didn’t put a penny towards it. When we went out for dinner, it was usually me picking up the bill,” she said.
However, Emokpae denied the allegation, telling The Sun that he contributed £400 towards his £900 flight from Nigeria and paid the council tax and water bills at their shared home.
READ ALSO:
- 68-Year-Old Briton Accuses Nigerian Husband Of Using Her To Obtain UK Visa
- Uber Announces Exit From Nigeria After 12 Years
- Army Cautions Nigerians Against Fake Recruitment Notice
- How Badejo-Okusanya Began Her First Day As NBA President
- Abuja Hospital Suspends Kidney Transplant Services Over Organ-Harvesting Probe
The couple separated in October 2023 but reunited six months later after Ottewell received a £63,000 payout from a medical negligence claim linked to a prolapse operation at an NHS hospital, according to The Sun.
Ottewell said she later regretted reconciling with Emokpae, claiming she became convinced that he was more interested in her money than their relationship.
Their relationship eventually broke down again, with Ottewell saying Emokpae left shortly before Christmas 2024 after discovering messages she had exchanged with other men on dating apps.
She said they have not spoken since he blocked her on social media about eight months before The Sun published its report.
“He’s done a runner and is refusing to sign the divorce papers because I believe he wants to cling on to his spouse visa,” she said.
Ottewell also alleged that Emokpae could be living in Scotland, where she claimed he had started an online clothing business.
“I’m convinced he was never in love with me and just wanted a visa to move to England,” Ottewell said.
“And it’s because of his cherished spouse visa that he won’t agree to a divorce.”
She said she was receiving help from Citizens Advice as she attempted to locate Emokpae and serve him with divorce papers.
“I just want him out of my life for good,” she said.
“I also want people to know that if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”
When contacted by The Sun, Emokpae said he had signed the divorce papers but declined to provide evidence supporting his claim.