British grandma, 68, left in limbo as Nigerian husband, 31, vanishes after landing UK spouse visa

A 68-year-old British grandmother says she has been left unable to finalise her divorce after her 31-year-old Nigerian husband disappeared soon after settling in the UK on a spouse visa, according to a report by The Sun.

Dawn Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, met Bright Emokpae, who is from Edo State, Nigeria, on Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021. She said he first presented himself as an older professional named “Brian Thomas” before later admitting he was actually a fashion student in his mid-twenties.

Despite the deception, Dawn said she was drawn in by his attentiveness and frequent video calls. The pair married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, in March 2022, after which Bright returned to Nigeria to process a UK spouse visa.

Once the visa came through roughly a year later, Dawn met him at Heathrow, but the marriage reportedly soured quickly. She claims he grew distant, repeatedly asked her for money, avoided contributing to bills, and sent cash back to Nigeria.

The couple split in October 2023 but reunited months later after Dawn received a £63,000 payout tied to a botched medical procedure. He is said to have left for good in late 2024, shortly after she returned from a family cruise.

Dawn says she hasn’t spoken to Bright in roughly eight months, since he blocked her online, and believes he may now be in Scotland running a clothing business. She says he is refusing to sign divorce papers, which she believes is tied to protecting his visa status. Without a will in place, she fears he could lay claim to her estate if she dies before the divorce is settled. She is now working with Citizens Advice to track him down.

READ MORE FROM THE SUN