By Staff Reporter.
A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has spoken about her alleged ordeal after her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, reportedly left their home shortly after moving to the United Kingdom on a spouse visa.
Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told The Sun UK that she met Emokpae, who is from Edo State, through dating apps Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021, at a time when she said she was struggling with loneliness and depression.
She said Emokpae, who is 37 years her junior, initially introduced himself as “Brian Thomas” before later telling her that he was a fashion student from Benin City.
According to Ottewell, the relationship developed through regular video calls before she travelled to Northern Cyprus, where Emokpae was studying on a student visa.
The couple subsequently married at a registry office in Nicosia on March 22, 2022, with two Turkish friends serving as their best man and maid of honour.
Following the wedding, Emokpae returned to Nigeria to process his spouse visa. About a year later, after the visa was granted, Ottewell travelled to Heathrow Airport to welcome him to the UK.
However, Ottewell alleged that their relationship became strained after his arrival, claiming that he became increasingly distant, frequently asked her for money and failed to contribute to household expenses while allegedly sending money to Nigeria.
She said her 72-year-old brother, Rory, later helped Emokpae secure employment at a local door manufacturing company.
The couple separated briefly in October 2023 but reportedly reconciled about six months later after Ottewell received a £63,000 settlement following what she described as a botched NHS prolapse operation.
Ottewell said she now regrets reconciling with her husband.
She recalled that shortly before Christmas 2024, she went on a £2,000 Caribbean cruise with her brother, but discovered after returning home that Emokpae had left.
According to her, he has not returned and has blocked her on social media.
Ottewell alleged that she has been unable to contact him for months and believes he may now be living in Scotland, where she suspects he operates an online clothing business.
“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 told The Sun.
The British woman also expressed concern about the possible implications for her estate if she dies before the marriage is legally dissolved.
“My biggest fear is that I’ll die before this is sorted out and he’ll run off with the money my three children should inherit,” she said.
Ottewell, who said she has not made a will, also expressed fears that her estranged husband could potentially make claims against her possessions, including jewellery, cash and furniture.
The allegations reported by Ottewell have not been independently established, and it was not immediately clear whether Emokpae had responded to the claims.
Credit: Vanguard
