A 68-year-old British grandmother, Dawn Otewell, has spoken out about the heartbreak she says she experienced after her 31-year-old Nigerian husband allegedly disappeared following his move to the UK on a spouse visa.
Dawn, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, met Bright Emokpae, from Edo State, on dating platforms Tinder and Plenty of Fish in 2021. She said Bright initially presented himself as “Brian Thomas,” claiming to be a professional in his 30s. He later admitted that his real name was Bright and that he was actually a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria.
Despite what she described as the deception, Dawn said she became emotionally attached to him through their frequent video calls and affectionate conversations.
The pair eventually got married at a registry office in Nicosia, Cyprus, on March 22, 2022. After the wedding, Bright returned to Nigeria to apply for a UK spouse visa.
About a year later, when his visa was approved, Dawn said she travelled to Heathrow Airport to welcome him to Britain. However, she claims their relationship quickly began to fall apart.
According to Dawn, Bright became increasingly distant, frequently asked her for money, refused to contribute towards household expenses and regularly sent money back to Nigeria.
The couple separated in October 2023 but later reconciled, with Dawn saying the relationship resumed about six months later.
Around the same period, she received a £63,000 compensation settlement following what she described as a botched medical procedure.
But their reconciliation did not last.
Dawn said Bright disappeared shortly after she returned from a £2,000 Caribbean cruise with her brother shortly before Christmas 2024. She claims he has not returned since.
She said she has now gone about eight months without speaking to him after he allegedly blocked her on social media. Dawn believes he may currently be living in Scotland, where she suspects he could be 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,” Dawn said.
The situation has left her particularly worried about what could happen to her belongings if she dies before their divorce is finalised. Dawn said she has not made a will and fears her estranged husband could potentially make a claim on her possessions.
“I feel I’m being used,” she said.
Dawn is now receiving assistance from Citizens Advice as she tries to locate Bright and have the divorce papers formally served.
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