British-Nigerian Art Dealer Sentenced For Selling Artwork To Suspected Hezbollah Financier

British-Nigerian art dealer and former BBC Bargain Hunt expert, Oghenochuko Ojiri, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison in the UK for selling artwork to a man suspected of financing Hezbollah, a group proscribed as a terrorist organization by British authorities.

Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to disclose suspicious transactions. According to the BBC, this is the first case to be prosecuted under that specific section of the law.

“These offences are so severe that only a custodial sentence can be justified,” said Justice Cheema-Grubb during sentencing. “You knew about Ahmad’s suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by people like him.”

The judge acknowledged Ojiri’s professional accomplishments, noting, “Your hard work, talent and charisma has brought you a great deal of success… you knew you should not have been dealing with that man.”

While there was no evidence that Ojiri himself supported extremist activity, the court found that his failure to report his transactions with Nazem Ahmad “undermined the detection of terrorist financing.”

Between 2020 and 2021, Ojiri secretly sold nearly £140,000 worth of art — including a £20,000 piece by Icelandic artist Baldur Helgason — to Ahmad. The artwork was shipped from London to Dubai and Beirut.

“Raising money for terrorism is a core part of how terrorist groups are then able to cause harm around the world,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, added: “This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way.”

Ojiri’s lawyer, Gavin Irwin, told the court his client was deeply remorseful. “He’d like to apologise for undermining trust in the art market. His humiliation is complete,” Irwin said, adding that Ojiri had lost “his good name” and “the work he loves.”

Although Ojiri initially denied knowing about Ahmad’s links to terrorism, evidence retrieved from his phone showed he was aware of US sanctions placed on Ahmad in 2019. A colleague had even warned him to avoid doing business with the collector.

Ahmad, who remains in Lebanon, is accused of laundering money for Hezbollah through the international art trade.