A married Nigerian man, Paul Mekwuye, has stated in a written account that his wife discovered he was gay while they were living in the United Kingdom, leading to the breakdown of their marriage and his decision to seek asylum.
In the written statement, Mekwuye said he realized from a young age that he was attracted to men and later entered into a relationship with a man identified as Godswill in Delta State.
He said they kept the relationship secret because same-sex relationships are criminalised in Nigeria.
According to Mekwuye, his parents discovered the relationship after his father found him and Godswill together in his bedroom.
He said the incident prompted his parents to arrange his marriage to Helen Efujuku, whom he married on September 10, 2021, despite not wanting the marriage.
Mekwuye stated that he and his wife relocated to the United Kingdom in November 2023, where she was pursuing a master’s degree while he joined her as a dependant. He said Godswill later moved to the UK, and they resumed their relationship openly.
He further stated that his wife eventually discovered the relationship after seeing him kissing Godswill outside a nightclub in Nottingham, an incident he said led to the collapse of their marriage.
Mekwuye also claimed that his wife reported him to authorities in the UK, took possession of his visa documents, and later travelled to Sapele, Delta State, where she submitted photographs and other documents relating to the matter.
According to Mekwuye, on November 7, 2025, his wife and members of her family reported him to the police in Sapele, Delta State, over the allegations. He claimed they requested that his passport be seized if he was found.
According to the statement, Mekwuye met with a counsellor on April 30, 2025, following the incident.
He added that he relocated to Glasgow and applied for asylum in the United Kingdom in September 2024, saying he fears returning to Nigeria because of his sexual orientation.
