By Emmanuel Kwada
A British-Nigerian art dealer, Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of failing to disclose information related to terrorism financing. Ojiri, a freelance expert on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, sold artwork worth £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man sanctioned for alleged links to Hezbollah.
The Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that Ojiri dealt directly with Ahmad, negotiated sales, and congratulated him on his purchases between October 2020 and December 2021. Ojiri’s prosecution marks the first of its kind in the UK, following investigations by the Metropolitan Police’s specialist arts and antiques unit.
Ojiri was granted bail and ordered to surrender his passport. His sentencing is scheduled for June 6 at the Old Bailey. The case raises concerns about the art world’s vulnerability to terrorism financing and the importance of compliance with financial sanctions.
