Briton, 68, Accuses Nigerian Husband, 31, of Visa Marriage

A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has accused her Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, 31, of marrying her to obtain a UK spouse visa, as she seeks to end their marriage.

Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told UK newspaper The Sun that she has been unable to locate Emokpae after he allegedly left their home and blocked her on social media.

The couple, who have a 37-year age gap, met on dating apps in 2021 before getting married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022.

Ottewell said Emokpae initially introduced himself as Brian Thomas, a professional in his 30s, before later revealing that he was a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria.

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Despite the revelation, she said she forgave him and travelled to Cyprus, where they met physically for the first time before getting married.

“I know I was a fool, but I was in love,” she said.

Ottewell said Emokpae later moved to Britain after securing a spouse visa, but their relationship began to deteriorate, with allegations of financial demands and emotional distance.

She claimed he frequently asked for money to be sent to Nigeria and contributed little towards household expenses.

However, Emokpae denied the allegations, telling The Sun that he contributed £400 towards his £900 flight from Nigeria and paid council tax and water bills at their shared home.

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The couple separated in October 2023 but reunited six months later after Ottewell received a £63,000 payout from a medical negligence claim related to an NHS hospital operation.

She said she later regretted reconciling with him, alleging that his interest was focused on her finances.

According to her, the relationship broke down again after Emokpae left their home shortly before Christmas 2024 following the discovery of messages she had exchanged with other men on dating apps.

Ottewell alleged that he has refused to sign divorce papers because he wants to retain his spouse visa status.

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“I’m convinced he was never in love with me and just wanted a visa to move to England,” she said.

She added that she was receiving support from Citizens Advice as she tried to locate him and complete the divorce process.

“I just want him out of my life for good,” she said.

When contacted by The Sun, Emokpae said he had signed the divorce papers but declined to provide evidence to support his claim.

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