British-Nigerian art dealer Ogeneochuko Ojiri has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for failing to report high-value art transactions linked to Nazem Ahmad, a man suspected of financing Hezbollah.
The 53-year-old, known for his appearance on the BBC programme Antiques Road Trip, admitted to selling artwork worth approximately £140,000 to Ahmad, despite being aware of his alleged ties to the proscribed terrorist organisation.
Reports state that that Ojiri pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges, specifically eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000, for failing to disclose suspicious transactions during his business operations.
Significantly, Ojiri is the first person charged under Section 21A of the Act, which criminalises withholding information that could prevent terrorism financing.
Prosecutors revealed that Ojiri knowingly concealed his dealings with Ahmad, manipulating invoices and saving Ahmad’s name under an alias in his phone. The court described Ojiri as “motivated by greed and a desire to ‘boost the reputation’ of his Shoreditch-based Ojiri Gallery by associating with a renowned collector.”
While sentencing at the Old Bailey, Justice Cheema-Grubb condemned Ojiri’s actions, stating, “You knew it was your duty to alert the authorities, but you elected to balance the financial profit and commercial success of your business against Ahmad’s dark side.”
Ojiri received a custodial sentence of two years and six months, along with an additional year on extended licence. His barrister, Kevin Irwin, noted that Ojiri was arrested on April 18, 2023, in Wrexham while filming a BBC show and remarked that his client’s “humiliation is complete” as he faced sentencing.
On the same day as Ojiri’s arrest, Ahmad was sanctioned by the UK government. Authorities subsequently seized artworks stored in two UK warehouses, including pieces by Picasso and Warhol, valued at nearly £1 million.”