Ochuko Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to disclose information in the course of business, as required under the Terrorism Act 2000.
This represents the UK’s first-ever prosecution under this specific clause of the Act.During proceedings at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, it was revealed that Ojiri sold artworks worth £140,000 between October 2020 and December 2021 to Nazem Ahmad, who is accused by both US and UK authorities of supporting Hezbollah, a banned Lebanon-based group.
British-Nigerian Art Dealer Ochuko Ojiri Pleads Guilty to Funding TerrorismProsecutor Lyndon Harris informed the court that Ojiri had knowledge of Ahmad’s sanctioned status, citing both news reports and conversations he had engaged in.“There is one discussion where Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about [Ahmad’s] terrorism links,” Mr Harris stated.
The court heard that Ojiri dealt directly with Ahmad and even congratulated him on his purchases.Although Ramp Gallery—now rebranded as the Ojiri Gallery in east London—had enlisted third-party compliance advisors, Harris noted that the guidance was “not properly acted on”.
The US imposed sanctions on Ahmad in 2019, followed by the UK in 2023. These sanctions included asset freezes and a ban on UK businesses from dealing with him.At the time, the UK government disclosed that Ahmad possessed “an extensive art collection in the UK” and had conducted business with “multiple UK-based artists, art galleries and auction houses.”Hezbollah, which receives backing from Iran, is classified as a terrorist organisation by both the US and UK.
Ojiri, who also made appearances on Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot!, is still listed as an expert on Bargain Hunt’s website. However, he has not been featured on BBC shows since 2023.
The case was the result of an investigation carried out by the Metropolitan Police’s specialist arts and antiques unit, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), and HM Revenue & Customs.Under UK terrorism law, failure to report suspicions or knowledge that a business associate may be financing a proscribed group is a criminal offence.
Appearing in court under the name Ochuko Ojiri, the defendant was granted bail on the condition that he surrender his passport and refrain from applying for any international travel documents.
