A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for failing to report high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing the militant group Hezbollah. Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, sold artworks worth approximately £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, who has been designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for the Lebanese organisation.
Ojiri, from Brent, north London, pleaded guilty to eight offences under section 21a of the Terrorism Act 2000, becoming the first person to be charged with this specific offence. The charges related to his failure to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector between October 2020 and December 2021.
The court heard that Ojiri was aware of US sanctions against Ahmad and saved his phone number under the name “Moss” to disguise his identity. Despite warnings from others, he continued dealing with Ahmad. Prosecutors stated that Ahmad used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund Hezbollah.
Defence lawyer Gavin Irwin said Ojiri was arrested while filming a BBC television programme and has lost his business and reputation. He described Ojiri as “naive” and said he was “preyed on by more sophisticated others”. Ojiri apologised for undermining trust in the industry.
Sentencing at the Old Bailey, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Ojiri had been involved in a commercial relationship “for prestige and profit” and knew about Ahmad’s suspected involvement in financing terrorism. She added that the offences were so serious that only a custodial sentence could be justified.
Commander Dominic Murphy of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command said the prosecution should serve as a warning to all art dealers that they will be prosecuted for knowingly doing business with funders of terrorist groups.
