A 68-year-old British woman has claimed that her 31-year-old Nigerian husband disappeared after moving to the United Kingdom on a spouse visa, leaving her struggling to end their marriage. Read original
Dawn Otewell, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, said she is now trying to locate Bright Emokpae, an Edo State-born Nigerian whom she married in Cyprus in 2022.
Dawn, who is a grandmother of seven, said she fears her husband could have a claim to her property and belongings if she dies before their divorce is completed.
How They Met
Dawn said she met Bright through dating apps Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021, at a time when she was feeling lonely and depressed.
According to her, Bright initially introduced himself as a man in his 30s named Brian Thomas and claimed to be a professional.
However, after they moved their conversations to WhatsApp, he allegedly admitted that his real name was Bright, that he was younger than he had initially claimed and that he was a fashion student from Benin, Nigeria.
Despite the deception, Dawn said she developed feelings for him because of the attention and affection he showed her during their regular video calls.
In March 2022, she travelled to northern Cyprus, where Bright was living on a student visa.
She said they eventually married at a registry office in Nicosia on March 22, 2022. Their wedding certificate recorded Bright as a 27-year-old student and Dawn as a 64-year-old housewife.
Dawn said she initially planned to spend only two weeks in Cyprus but stayed for about a month after Bright persuaded her to remain and marry him.
Husband Moves To Britain
After the wedding, Dawn returned to her home in Dewsbury while Bright went back to Nigeria to process a spouse visa.
About a year later, the visa was granted and Dawn travelled to Heathrow Airport to welcome him to Britain.
She said their relationship began to deteriorate after he arrived.
According to Dawn, she helped him settle in the UK, while her brother helped him secure a manufacturing job at a door company.
However, she claimed Bright became distant and frequently asked for money. She also alleged that he sent significant amounts of money to Nigeria and did not contribute financially to their household expenses.
The couple separated in October 2023.
They later reconciled about six months afterwards, around the time Dawn received a £63,000 compensation payment following an NHS medical procedure.
Dawn now believes she made a mistake by taking him back after receiving the money.
Marriage Breaks Down Again
The relationship reportedly remained troubled, with another major disagreement occurring shortly before Christmas 2024.
Dawn said she went on a £2,000 Caribbean cruise with her brother, but claimed Bright became angry because he believed she should have used the money to help clear his debts.
When she returned from the trip, she said Bright left the home and did not come back.
Dawn claims she has not spoken to him since he blocked her on social media about eight months ago.
She said she has since struggled to find his current address so that divorce documents can be served on him.
Fear Over Inheritance
Dawn, who says she suffers from several health problems, including heart disease, angina, sciatica and IBS, is particularly worried about what could happen if she dies before the marriage is legally dissolved.
She said she has not made a will and fears Bright could potentially have rights to some of her belongings, including jewellery, cash and furniture.
Dawn believes her estranged husband is deliberately avoiding her because of his immigration status.
She also claims he may now be living in Scotland, where she believes he has started an online clothing business advertised on social media.
Speaking about the situation, Dawn described it as an "absolute nightmare" and said she believes Bright was more interested in obtaining a UK visa than building a genuine marriage.
She said she is receiving assistance from Citizens Advice while efforts are being made to establish his whereabouts.
Dawn has urged others to be cautious when entering marriages, particularly relationships that involve significant age differences or immigration arrangements.
She said she wants to finally end the marriage and move on with her life.