British-Nigerian Sentenced for Selling Art to Hezbollah Financier

A British-Nigerian art dealer, Oghenochuko Ojiri, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for failing to report suspicious art transactions linked to Nazem Ahmad, a man suspected of financing the terrorist group Hezbollah.

Ojiri, 53, who once featured on the BBC’s Antiques Road Trip, admitted to selling artworks worth around £140,000 to Ahmad despite knowing his alleged terrorist affiliations. He pleaded guilty to eight counts under the UK Terrorism Act 2000, making him the first person charged under Section 21A, which criminalises the failure to disclose information that could help prevent terrorism financing.

Prosecutors told London’s Old Bailey court that Ojiri was fully aware of Ahmad’s background and deliberately covered up their dealings. This included manipulating invoices and saving Ahmad’s name under a false identity in his phone.

The court described Ojiri’s motivation as “greed and a desire to boost the reputation” of his London-based business, Ojiri Gallery, by working with a high-profile collector.

Justice Cheema-Grubb, while delivering the sentence, condemned Ojiri’s actions:
“You knew it was your duty to alert the authorities, but you chose to weigh financial gain and business success against the threat posed by Ahmad’s dark associations.”

Ojiri was sentenced to 30 months in custody, with an additional one year under extended licence following his release.

His arrest took place on April 18, 2023, in Wrexham, where he was filming a BBC programme. His lawyer, Kevin Irwin, said his client’s “humiliation is complete” as he now faces the consequences of his actions.

Coincidentally, the UK government imposed sanctions on Ahmad the same day Ojiri was arrested. Authorities later seized nearly £1 million worth of artwork, including pieces by Picasso and Warhol, from two UK warehouses connected to the case.