Dawn Ottewell says her 31-year-old husband, Bright Emokpae, left their home and blocked her on social media after their relationship broke down.

A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has accused her Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, of marrying her primarily to obtain a UK spouse visa, saying she is now struggling to locate him as she seeks to end their marriage.

Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told the UK newspaper The Sun that her 31-year-old husband had left their home, blocked her on social media and was refusing to cooperate with the divorce process.

The couple, who have a 37-year age difference, met through dating apps in 2021 before travelling to Cyprus, where they married at a registry office in Nicosia on March 22, 2022.

According to Ottewell, Emokpae initially presented himself as a professional in his 30s named Brian Thomas. She later discovered that he was a fashion student from Benin City, Nigeria and was in his mid-20s at the time.

Despite the revelation, Ottewell said she decided to continue with the relationship.

“I know I was a fool, but I was in love,” she told The Sun.

She said she had been particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she was unemployed, dealing with health problems and receiving Universal Credit.

Ottewell was also living with her 33-year-old daughter, Kirsty, and her young child at the time, but said the arrangement had become difficult.

“When I met Bright, he made me feel special and alive,” she said.

The couple subsequently married in Cyprus after meeting in person for the first time.

Relationship deteriorates after move to UK

Ottewell said Emokpae later moved to the UK after obtaining a spouse visa, but their relationship gradually became strained.

She alleged that he became increasingly distant and made financial demands, including requests involving money sent 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.

Emokpae, however, disputed her account. According to The Sun, he said he contributed £400 towards his £900 flight from Nigeria and paid council tax and water bills at their shared home.

The couple separated in October 2023 but later reconciled, reportedly about six months later.

Ottewell said the reconciliation came after she received a £63,000 payout from a medical negligence claim relating to a prolapse operation at an NHS hospital.

She now believes the decision to reunite was a mistake and alleged that Emokpae was more interested in her financial circumstances than in rebuilding their relationship.

Second separation

Their relationship eventually broke down again.

Ottewell said 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, which she told The Sun occurred about eight months before the newspaper published its report.

Ottewell believes her husband is deliberately avoiding the divorce because of his UK immigration status.

“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.

She 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.”

Seeking help to locate husband

Ottewell said she is receiving assistance from Citizens Advice as she attempts to locate Emokpae and serve him with divorce papers.

She said her primary goal was to formally end the marriage and move on with her life.

“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.”

However, Emokpae rejected Ottewell's account when approached by The Sun. He reportedly said he had already signed the divorce papers but declined to provide evidence to substantiate his claim.

The allegations remain disputed, and there is no independent evidence presented in the report establishing that Emokpae married Ottewell specifically to obtain a UK visa.