Nigerian husband absconds as 68-year-old British wife seeks divorce

A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has alleged that her 31-year-old Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, has absconded as she struggles to end their marriage.

According to a report by The Sun, Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, said Emokpae left their home and blocked her on social media, making it difficult for her to locate him and serve him with divorce papers.

It was learnt that the couple, who have a 37-year age difference, reportedly met on a dating app in 2021 and married you at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022.

Ottewell said Emokpae initially told her that he was a professional in his 30s named Brian Thomas before revealing that he was a fashion student from Benin City in Edo State.

She added that she forgave him and travelled to Cyprus in March 2022, where they met in person for the first time and got married.

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Emokpae then moved to Britain on a spouse visa, but Ottewell said their relationship later deteriorated over financial disagreements and other issues.

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

She alleged that Emokpae left again shortly before Christmas 2024 after discovering messages she had exchanged with other men on dating apps.

Ottewell, who said she has not spoken to him since he blocked her, alleged that he could be in Scotland, where she claimed he had started an online clothing business, accusing him of deliberately being out of reach to retain his spouse visa.

However, Emokpae denied some of her allegations, telling The Sun that he had signed the divorce papers, although he declined to provide evidence.

Ayoola Olasupo is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with six years of experience reporting on metro, crime, human-interest interviews, politics, and feature stories. He focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices and producing stories that promote justice, empathy, and informed public dialogue. Ayoola’s reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a dedication to accurate, impactful, and socially conscious journalism.