London art dealer charged with terrorist financing offences: update

On Friday, May 9, art dealer Oghenochuko Ojiri pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Ojiri, who has appeared on popular BBC shows like Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, admitted failing to report several high-value art sales to Nazem Ahmed, a man with suspected ties with Hezbollah. The sales happened in Dubai and Beirut between October 2020 and December 2021. According to Prosecutor Lyndon Harris, Ojiri knew Ahmed had been sanctioned by the US for his terrorism links but went on with the sales, negotiating directly with Ahmed and congratulating him at the end of the bargain. After pleading guilty, Ojiri has been bailed ahead of his sentencing at the Old Bailey in early June. He has surrendered his passport and cannot apply for international travel documents, although his lawyer reassured the court that he is not “a flight risk.”