Ojiri, British -Nigerian Art Dealer Jailed Over Terror Financing
A British-Nigerian art dealer, Ogeneochuko Ojiri, has been jailed for 2.5 years for concealing high-value art deals connected to Nazem Ahmad, a man accused of supporting Hezbollah through financial backing.
The 53-year-old, recognized for his appearances on the BBC’s *Antiques Road Trip*, confessed to selling artworks totaling around £140,000 to Ahmad, despite knowledge of his alleged association with the banned terrorist group.
Ojiri entered a guilty plea to terrorism-related offenses, including eight charges under the Terrorism Act 2000, which penalizes the suppression of information that could hinder terror financing. He is the first person prosecuted under Section 21A of the Act, which mandates reporting suspicions of funds linked to extremism.
Prosecutors detailed how Ojiri deliberately hid his business ties with Ahmad by altering invoices and storing the collector’s name under a pseudonym in his mobile device.
The court highlighted that his actions were driven by avarice and an ambition to elevate the profile of his Shoreditch-based Ojiri Gallery through association with a prominent art collector.
During sentencing at London’s Old Bailey court, Justice Cheema-Grubb rebuked Ojiri, stating, “You were aware of your obligation to inform authorities but chose instead to prioritize financial gain and the commercial success of your enterprise over the risks posed by Ahmad’s connections.”
Ojiri received a custodial term of two years and six months, accompanied by a 12-month extended release period. His defense attorney, Kevin Irwin, noted that the arrest occurred on April 18, 2023, in Wrexham while Ojiri was participating in a BBC television production, adding that his client’s “humiliation is absolute” as he faced judgment.
On the same date as Ojiri’s arrest, the UK government imposed sanctions on Ahmad. Officials later confiscated nearly £1 million worth of artworks, including pieces by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, stored in two British warehouses.
