Art dealer and TV personality, Oghenochuko “Ochuko” Ojiri, has pleaded guilty to multiple offences tied to a police investigation into terrorist financing linked to the Hezbollah network.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, the 53-year-old admitted to eight counts of failing to report suspicious transactions within the regulated arts sector, in violation of Section 21a of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Prosecutors revealed that Ojiri sold artworks worth approximately £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a known Hezbollah financier who is under international sanctions.
The court heard that Ojiri was aware of Ahmad’s ties to terrorism at the time of the transactions and had even accessed media reports detailing his links to the proscribed organisation.
Prosecutor Lyndon Harris stated that Ojiri directly negotiated with Ahmad, facilitated the sales, and sent the artworks to locations including Dubai and Beirut.
Evidence showed that Ojiri was involved in conversations acknowledging Ahmad’s long-suspected ties to terrorism.
The charges relate to individual art transactions that took place while Ahmad was under US sanctions, which Ojiri actively discussed and ignored.
Despite this, he congratulated Ahmad on successful sales and continued doing business with him.
Ojiri, who is based in west London and is known for his appearances on Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, was granted bail ahead of sentencing at the Old Bailey scheduled for 6 June.
He was ordered to surrender his passport and prohibited from applying for international travel documents.
Defence lawyer Gavin Irwin maintained Ojiri poses no flight risk, noting that he has always returned to the UK despite knowing charges were imminent.
