UK Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Selling Artwork to Suspected Hezbollah Financier

Oghenochuko Ojiri admitted in court to failing to disclose potential terrorist financing, raising concerns about connections between the art world and illicit funding.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old art dealer recognized for his role on the popular BBC antiques program "Bargain Hunt," has pled guilty in a London court to multiple charges related to selling artworks to an individual linked to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization. On Friday, during a session at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Ojiri pleaded guilty to eight counts of failing to report potential terrorist financing activities.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris disclosed that Ojiri sold various art pieces to Nazem Ahmad, who is known to the authorities as a suspected financier for Hezbollah and has been sanctioned by both the United States and the United Kingdom. The total value of the artworks sold to Ahmad, between October 2020 and January 2022, was estimated to be around £140,000, equivalent to approximately $186,000, according to current exchange rates.

Ojiri's background as an expert on "Bargain Hunt" raised eyebrows when the charges were made public. While his profile remained on the show’s website, the BBC clarified that he had not participated in any projects since 2023 and operated as a freelancer, lacking formal ties to the organization.

This developing situation has ignited discussions about the potential intersections of the art market and terrorism financing, leaving many in the industry anxious for what implications this case may hold. Stay tuned for further updates as this story evolves.