A British-Nigerian art dealer, Oghenochuko Ojiri, has pleaded guilty to failing to report art sales to a man suspected of funding Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist group. The case marks the first of its kind under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000.
Ojiri, 53, is known for his appearances on BBC’s *Bargain Hunt* and *Antiques Road Trip*. He admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose suspicious transactions between October 2020 and December 2021. The total value of the sales was about £140,000 (over ₦250 million).
He sold the artworks to Nazem Ahmad, a Lebanese businessman who had been sanctioned by the US in 2019 for allegedly funding Hezbollah. The UK government also sanctioned Ahmad in April 2023, freezing his assets and banning any business with him. That same day, Ojiri was arrested.
The court heard that Ojiri knew about Ahmad’s links to terrorism. Prosecutors said he had read reports on Ahmad’s activities and discussed them with others, but failed to alert the authorities. The law requires individuals to report any suspicions of dealings with terror-linked individuals.
Ojiri owns a London-based art gallery and reportedly dealt with Ahmad directly, congratulating him on his purchases. Despite seeking advice on compliance, his gallery did not follow proper procedures.
During police questioning, Ojiri said he did not support terrorism and was not motivated by money. He claimed he was drawn by the status of working with a well-known art collector.
Hezbollah, the group at the centre of the case, is a Shia political and militant group based in Lebanon, and is considered a terrorist organisation by both the UK and US governments.
Ojiri has not worked with the BBC since 2023 and is not a staff member, but a freelance presenter. The BBC has declined to comment while legal proceedings continue.
He has been granted bail, ordered to surrender his passport, and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on June 6.
