A 68-year-old British woman, Dawn Ottewell, has said she is struggling to locate her Nigerian husband, Bright Emokpae, 31, whom she married in 2022.

Ottewell, from Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, told the UK-based newspaper, The Sun, that she wanted to divorce Emokpae, whom she accused of leaving their home and blocking her on social media.

As reported by The Sun on Monday, the couple, who have a 37-year age difference, met on dating apps in 2021 before marrying 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, but later disclosed that he was a fashion student in his mid-20s from Benin City, Nigeria.

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

“I know I was a fool, but I was in love,” Ottewell said.

“I was so lonely and depressed during the pandemic. I was out-of-work with several health issues. I was on Universal Credit and living with my daughter Kirsty, 33, who had a 14-month-old baby, but we were arguing all the time.

“When I met Bright, he made me feel special and alive.”

According to Ottewell, Emokpae later moved to Britain after obtaining a spouse visa, but their relationship deteriorated.

She alleged that he became distant and made frequent financial demands, including sending money to Nigeria.

“I got all-new furniture, and he didn’t put a penny towards it. When we went out for dinner, it was usually me picking up the bill,” she said.

The Sun reported that Emokpae denied the allegation, saying he contributed £400 towards his £900 flight from Nigeria and paid the council tax and water bills at their shared home.

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 prolapse operation at an NHS hospital, according to The Sun.

Ottewell said she later regretted reconciling with him, alleging that he was interested in her money.

The relationship subsequently deteriorated again, and she said Emokpae left shortly before Christmas 2024 after finding messages she had exchanged with other men on dating apps.

Ottewell said she had not spoken to him since he blocked her on social media about eight months before The Sun’s report was published.

“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,” she said.

She also alleged that Emokpae could be living in Scotland, where she claimed he had started an online clothing business.

“I’m convinced he was never in love with me and just wanted a visa to move to England,” Ottewell said.

“And it’s because of his cherished spouse visa that he won’t agree to a divorce.”

Ottewell said she was receiving assistance from Citizens Advice as she tried to locate him and serve him with divorce papers.

“I just want him out of my life for good,” she said.

“I also want people to know that if this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

When approached by The Sun, Emokpae said he had signed the divorce papers but declined to provide evidence to support his claim.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has declared that any party leader who fails to secure victory in their polling unit, ward or constituency in the 2027 general elections will not be eligible for appointments from the federal government.

APC State Chairman Chijioke Chukwu made the announcement on Sunday at the party’s secretariat in Umuahia during a post-primary election reconciliation meeting. He said the party would closely track the performance of all members and stakeholders in the polls to measure their commitment.

Chukwu revealed that results from the polling units, wards and constituencies of APC leaders would be published immediately after the elections for assessment by the party’s national leadership.

Calling for unity, focus and a sustained strategy to deliver victory for President Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in Abia, the chairman warned House of Assembly candidates and other stakeholders against trading the party’s interests for those of any other political organisation.

“Let me tell you, we are working out a modality where people will be rewarded according to their output. If you think you have contacts in Abuja and you lose your polling unit, ward and constituency, and you expect to be made a minister, it is impossible under this regime,” Chukwu said.

“Immediately after this election, we will publish the polling units of all the leaders and stakeholders of the party. If you cannot win your polling unit, ward and constituency, you have no business being made a federal commissioner or a minister. Things must change, and we must follow a new order,” he added.

Responding to the charge, APC member Sam Anya said structures had already been put in place in Ohafia to ensure victory for President Tinubu and all party candidates in the state.

Chukwu also inaugurated a peace committee headed by Madukwe Ukaegbu to reconcile all party members ahead of the 2027 elections.

U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell has given Donald Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro four additional days to produce records related to alleged drug-trafficking activities involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.

The order was disclosed Tuesday by Dr. Von Batten-Montague-York in a post on X. Judge Howell noted that the underlying case has been pending for more than three years.

Pirro had reportedly sought a 10-day extension to comply with a court order requiring the release of materials held by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Howell granted only four days, setting a firm deadline of August 21, 2026.

Von Batten-Montague-York described the ruling as a sign of renewed urgency from Pirro and the Justice Department. “We deeply appreciate U.S. Attorney Pirro and the DOJ’s renewed motivation to release these documents, and we agree with Judge Howell. This case has been pending for three years. The time to release the Tinubu drug-trafficking files is now,” he wrote.

He added that strategic interests between the United States and Nigeria should not block disclosure. “As President Trump has indicated, our shared interests with Nigeria do not mean supporting an alleged drug trafficker.”

The records at issue have not been publicly released, and neither the Justice Department nor Pirro’s office has issued an official statement on the latest extension.