A 68-year-old British grandmother has said her 31-year-old Nigerian husband disappeared months after moving to the UK on a spouse visa, leaving her unable to finalise their divorce.
Dawn Otewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said she met Bright Emokpae, from Edo State, on dating apps Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021.
Otewell said Emokpae initially introduced himself as “Brian Thomas,” a professional in his 30s, before later admitting he was a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin, Nigeria.
The pair married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022. Emokpae then returned to Nigeria to apply for a UK spouse visa.
Otewell said she welcomed him at Heathrow about a year later when the visa was approved. She alleged the relationship deteriorated, with Emokpae becoming distant, asking her for money, refusing to contribute to bills and sending funds to Nigeria.
The couple separated in October 2023 but reconciled after Otewell received a £63,000 compensation settlement. She said Emokpae left shortly after she returned from a £2,000 Caribbean cruise in December 2024 and has not been seen since.
She said she has not spoken to him for about eight months after he blocked her on social media. Otewell suspects he may be living in Scotland and running 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,” Otewell said.
Otewell, who has not made a will, said she fears Emokpae could claim her possessions if she dies before the divorce is finalised. She said she is receiving help from Citizens Advice to locate him and serve the papers.