British-Nigerian art dealer and television personality, Ogeneochuko Ojiri, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison by a UK court for failing to report suspicious art transactions linked to terrorism financing.
Ojiri, 53, who previously featured on the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip, admitted selling over £140,000 worth of art to Lebanese businessman Nazem Ahmad—an individual accused of financing Hezbollah, a group classified as a terrorist organisation by the UK and many other countries.
The sentencing took place at the Old Bailey, where Justice Cheema-Grubb criticised Ojiri for knowingly putting profit above public safety. “You knew it was your duty to alert the authorities,” the judge said. “But you chose to prioritise the financial gain and reputation of your gallery over Ahmad’s dark associations.”
Ojiri, who ran the Ojiri Gallery in Shoreditch, London, pleaded guilty to eight counts under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, specifically Section 21A. He is the first individual to be charged and convicted under this section, which makes it a crime to withhold information that could help prevent terrorism financing.
Prosecutors told the court that Ojiri was fully aware of Ahmad’s background and chose to hide their business relationship. He reportedly altered invoices and saved Ahmad’s contact under a fake name in his phone to avoid detection.
They further argued that Ojiri was “motivated by greed” and the desire to elevate the status of his gallery by associating with a high-profile art buyer.
Ojiri was arrested on April 18, 2023, in Wrexham while filming a programme for the BBC. That same day, the UK government officially sanctioned Ahmad, freezing his assets and seizing valuable artworks stored in warehouses across the country. Some of the confiscated pieces included works by legendary artists Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, collectively worth nearly £1 million.
Ojiri’s lawyer, Kevin Irwin, told the court that his client’s “humiliation is complete,” noting that the arrest and trial had destroyed both his reputation and career. He described Ojiri as “deeply remorseful” for his actions.
Despite the defence’s pleas for leniency, the judge handed down a custodial sentence of two years and six months, with an additional one year on extended licence after release.
The case has drawn international attention not only because of Ojiri’s previous media exposure, but also due to its implications in the fight against terrorism financing through seemingly legitimate industries like art and antiques.
Authorities believe the case highlights the need for stricter monitoring of high-value transactions in the art world. Art, like real estate and luxury goods, has long been identified as a potential tool for money laundering and terror financing, especially because of its often vague pricing and cross-border movement.
For Nigeria, the case is particularly troubling. Ojiri, who holds dual British and Nigerian citizenship, was seen by many as a successful diaspora figure in the creative industry. His fall from grace is seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring legal and ethical responsibilities in business.
Hezbollah, the group Ahmad is alleged to have supported, has been under international scrutiny for years. The UK designated the entire organisation a terrorist group in 2019, and global efforts to track its funding have intensified in recent years.
The UK authorities say this conviction sends a strong message that financial support for terrorism, whether direct or indirect, will be prosecuted without hesitation—even in high-profile and unconventional industries like art dealing.
