British-Nigerian art dealer Ochuko Ojiri has pleaded guilty to charges of funding terrorism after failing to report multiple high-value art sales to a man connected to Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization.
Ojiri, 53, admitted to eight counts of not making a required disclosure under the Terrorism Act 2000, marking the first case of its kind in the UK under this specific provision.
At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, it was revealed that Ojiri sold artwork worth £140,000 between October 2020 and December 2021 to Nazem Ahmad, a man accused by both the US and UK governments of supporting Hezbollah.
The prosecution argued that Ojiri was aware of Ahmad’s sanctions status, citing conversations and news reports he had access to. Ojiri had direct dealings with Ahmad, including congratulating him on his purchases.
Despite having hired a third party for compliance advice, the court found that Ojiri did not act on the advice provided.
Ahmad had been sanctioned by the US in 2019 and by the UK in 2023, with asset freezes and a ban on business dealings imposed. The UK government revealed that Ahmad had an extensive art collection in the UK and conducted transactions with multiple UK-based galleries and artists.
Ojiri is also known for his appearances on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, Antiques Road Trip, and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot!, but has not featured on BBC programs since 2023.
The case stemmed from an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s arts and antiques unit, HM Revenue & Customs, and the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI).
Under UK terrorism laws, failing to report knowledge or suspicion of a business associate’s involvement with a proscribed group is an offense.
Ojiri, who appeared in court under the name Ochuko Ojiri, was granted bail but ordered to surrender his passport and prohibited from applying for international travel documents.
