British Grandmother, 68, Says Nigerian Husband, 31, Disappeared After Spouse Visa

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A 68-year-old British grandmother has alleged that her Nigerian husband disappeared after arriving in the UK on a spouse visa, leaving her struggling to finalise their divorce and concerned about her children’s inheritance.

A 68-year-old woman from West Yorkshire has claimed that her Nigerian husband disappeared from their home after entering Britain on a spouse visa, leaving her unable to bring their marriage to an end.

Dawn Ottewell, from Dewsbury, told The Sun that she met Nigerian national Bright Emokpae, from Benin City, Edo State, through online dating platforms Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021.

According to Ottewell, Emokpae initially introduced himself as Brian Thomas and said he was a professional in his 30s. She later learned, she said, that he was a Nigerian fashion student in his mid-20s.

The pair married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022. Their marriage certificate reportedly recorded Ottewell as 64 and Emokpae as 27 at the time.

Following the wedding, Emokpae returned to Nigeria and applied for a UK spouse visa. Ottewell said the visa was granted about a year later and that she met him when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.

She said her brother subsequently helped Emokpae secure employment with a local door manufacturing company.

However, Ottewell claimed that their relationship deteriorated soon after he arrived in Britain. She alleged that he became increasingly distant, requested money, sent funds to Nigeria and contributed little towards household expenses.

The couple separated in October 2023 but later reconciled, according to Ottewell. She said their reconciliation occurred roughly six months later, after she received a £63,000 compensation payment following an NHS operation.

Ottewell said the relationship eventually broke down again after she returned from a £2,000 Caribbean cruise with her brother around Christmas 2024.

She claimed Emokpae subsequently left and did not return. By August 2026, she said she had not spoken to him for around eight months after he blocked her on social media.

Ottewell believes he could now be living in Scotland and alleged that he may be operating an online clothing business. However, no official record has been published confirming his current address or the alleged 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,” Ottewell told The Sun.

She said her biggest concern was what could happen to her three children’s inheritance if she died before the marriage was legally dissolved.

Ottewell, who said she has heart disease, sciatica, angina and IBS, also told the newspaper that she does not currently have a will. She is receiving assistance from Citizens Advice as she attempts to locate Emokpae and serve him with divorce documents.

She claimed that their last exchange ended with Emokpae saying he no longer had the relevant papers and would not sign them.

Emokpae, however, has disputed Ottewell’s account of the relationship.

In comments to The Sun in 2025, he said he married Ottewell because he loved her. He also claimed that she encouraged him to come to Britain on a spouse visa instead of pursuing a student visa.

Emokpae said Ottewell sent him only small amounts of money and paid part of his flight, while he contributed towards household expenses, including council tax and water bills.

He also claimed that the relationship ended after Ottewell asked him to leave.

When contacted again in 2026, Emokpae reportedly said he had signed the divorce papers but declined to provide evidence confirming this.

The dispute has therefore produced two sharply different accounts of what happened after the couple’s marriage and Emokpae’s arrival in Britain.

There is no publicly available court judgment establishing the allegations made by either party, while no official Home Office record has been published confirming Emokpae’s current immigration status or whereabouts.

The case has attracted attention online and has been republished by several African news platforms following The Sun’s August 2026 follow-up.

It also comes amid wider public discussions surrounding international relationships, marriage and immigration in the UK. However, the specific allegations involving Ottewell and Emokpae remain disputed and have not been tested in court.

The case also highlights why legal and estate-planning issues can become complicated when a marriage has not been formally dissolved. Ottewell says she wants the divorce completed so that her concerns about her estate and her children’s inheritance can be resolved.