A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has said she is struggling to locate her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, as she seeks to end their marriage.
Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told the UK-based newspaper, The Sun, that Emokpae left their home and blocked her on social media, making it difficult for her to serve him with divorce papers.
The couple, who have a 37-year age difference, met on dating apps in 2021 and married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022, according to The Sun.
Ottewell said Emokpae initially introduced himself as a professional in his 30s named Brian Thomas before later revealing that he was a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria.
She said she eventually forgave him and travelled to Cyprus in March 2022, where they met in person for the first time before getting married.
“I know I was a fool, but I was in love,” Ottewell said.
She explained that she had been lonely and depressed during the COVID-19 pandemic, while she was unemployed, dealing with several health issues and receiving Universal Credit.
According to her, meeting Emokpae made her feel special during a difficult period in her life.
“When I met Bright, he made me feel special and alive,” she said.
Emokpae later moved to Britain after obtaining a spouse visa, but Ottewell said their relationship deteriorated after his arrival.
She alleged that he became distant and frequently demanded money, including funds that she claimed he 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 alleged.
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.
The couple separated in October 2023 but reunited six months later after Ottewell received a £63,000 payout following a medical negligence claim linked to a prolapse operation at an NHS hospital, according to the newspaper.
Ottewell said she later regretted reconciling with Emokpae, alleging that he was primarily interested in her money.
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 she had not spoken to him 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 further 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,” she alleged.
“And it’s because of his cherished spouse visa that he won’t agree to a divorce.”
Ottewell said she was receiving assistance from Citizens Advice in her efforts to locate Emokpae and serve him with the 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 approached by The Sun, Emokpae said he had signed the divorce papers but did not provide evidence to support his claim.