An individual with expertise in art, who has previously contributed to the BBC show Bargain Hunt, has confessed to not reporting several significant art sales to a man suspected of funding the banned organization Hezbollah. Oghenochuko Ojiri, aged 53, has admitted to eight charges under the Terrorism Act 2000 for neglecting to disclose crucial information during business transactions, marking the first case of its kind.
The court was informed on Friday that Ojiri had sold artwork amounting to £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, who is alleged to have ties to the Lebanon-based group and was subjected to sanctions by the US in 2019. According to Lyndon Harris, the prosecutor, Ojiri had been aware of the sanctions imposed on Ahmad and had conversations about it with others. The offenses occurred between October 2020 and December 2021.
Originally establishing Ramp Gallery, now identified as the Ojiri Gallery, located in east London, Ojiri found himself entangled in legal proceedings due to his association with Ahmad. Despite seeking advice on compliance matters from a third party, Ojiri allegedly did not adhere to the given guidance. The court was told that Ojiri directly engaged with Ahmad, negotiated art sales, and even praised his acquisitions.
Hezbollah, classified as a terrorist group by various nations such as the UK and the US, is a Shia Muslim political and military organization in Lebanon, backed by Iran. Ojiri, also recognized as Ochuko Ojiri, was charged following a thorough investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police’s specialized arts and antiques unit, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC. The seasoned art expert, listed on Bargain Hunt’s website as one of the program’s experts, is a freelancer in the industry and has made appearances on other shows like Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot!. It should be noted that Ojiri has not been involved in BBC productions since 2023
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