Ochuko Ojiri, a British-Nigerian art dealer and former BBC television personality, is trending after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offenses in the UK. Known for his appearances on shows like Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, Ojiri admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose high-value art sales to Nazem Ahmad, a Lebanese businessman sanctioned for alleged ties to Hezbollah .
Between October 2020 and December 2021, Ojiri sold approximately £140,000 worth of artwork to Ahmad, despite being aware of his designation as a suspected terrorist financier by both the U.S. and UK governments . Prosecutors revealed that Ojiri had accessed news reports about Ahmad’s sanctions and discussed them with others, indicating his knowledge of the situation .
The transactions involved shipping art pieces to locations including Dubai and Beirut . Ojiri’s failure to report these sales marked the first prosecution under section 21A of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, which mandates disclosure of suspicious financial activities in regulated sectors .
Following his guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Ojiri was granted bail with conditions, including surrendering his passport . He is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on June 6, 2025, and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison .
The case has sparked widespread discussion about the responsibilities of art dealers in preventing the financing of terrorism and the importance of compliance with financial regulations .
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