68-year-old Briton accuses Nigerian husband of marrying her for UK visa, seeks divorce

A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has filed for divorce against her Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, 31, accusing him of marrying her solely for the purpose of securing a UK spouse visa. Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, claims she has been unable to locate Emokpae, who she alleges fled the country after their marriage deteriorated. Ottewell and Emokpae met on dating apps in 2021 and married in March 2022 at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus. She revealed that Emokpae initially presented himself as a man named Brian Thomas, a professional in his 30s, but later admitted to being a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria. Despite the initial deception, Ottewell said she forgave him and traveled to Cyprus in March 2022 to meet him in person before the wedding. “I knew I was a fool, but I was in love,” Ottewell stated. “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 moved to the United Kingdom after obtaining a spouse visa. However, their relationship quickly turned sour. Ottewell alleged that Emokpae became emotionally distant and frequently demanded financial support, including sending money back to Nigeria. She described how she covered most expenses, including new furniture and dining out, while Emokpae contributed little. “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. The couple separated in October 2023 but reunited six months later after Ottewell received a £63,000 payout following a medical negligence claim related to a prolapse operation at an NHS hospital. However, she later regretted the reconciliation, claiming Emokpae showed interest in her finances. Their relationship deteriorated once more, and Ottewell said Emokpae left shortly before Christmas 2024 after discovering messages she had exchanged with other men on dating apps. She has not spoken to him since he blocked her on social media about eight months prior to the publication of the story. “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,” Ottewell said. She believes Emokpae might be living in Scotland, where she claims he has started an online clothing business. “I’m convinced he was never in love with me and just wanted a visa to move to England,” she added. “And it’s because of his cherished spouse visa that he won’t agree to a divorce.” Ottewell is currently seeking help from Citizens Advice to locate Emokpae and serve him with divorce papers. She expressed her desire to end the relationship permanently and warned others that such situations can occur. “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 stated he had signed the divorce papers but refused to provide evidence supporting his claim. His account remains unverified, and Ottewell continues to pursue legal action to finalize the divorce.