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Terror Financing: British-Nigerian Art Dealer, Ojiri Jailed for Concealing 拢140,000 Transactions
Alex Enumah in Abuja
British-Nigerian art dealer, Ogeneochuko Ojiri has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after failing to report a series of high-value art transactions involving Nazem Ahmad, a man suspected of financing Hezbollah.
The 53-year-old, who once appeared on the BBC programme Antiques Road Trip, admitted to selling approximately 拢140,000 worth of artwork to Ahmad, despite being aware of his alleged links to the proscribed terrorist organisation.
Ojiri had pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges after admitting to selling valuable artworks to a man accused of financing Hezbollah.
He specifically admitted to eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to disclose suspicious transactions during his business activities.
Notably, Ojiri is the first person charged under Section 21A of the Act, which makes it a criminal offence to withhold information that could prevent terrorism financing.
Prosecutors told the court that Ojiri was fully aware of Ahmad鈥檚 background and deliberately concealed their dealings.
It was alleged he manipulated invoices related to the art sales and saved Ahmad鈥檚 name under an alias on his phone.
The court heard that Ojiri was 鈥渕otivated by greed and a desire to 鈥榖oost the reputation鈥 of his business, the Shoreditch-based Ojiri Gallery, by 鈥榙ealing with such a well-known collector.鈥欌
While delivering the sentence at the Old Bailey, Justice Cheema-Grubb criticised Ojiri鈥檚 actions, stating, 鈥淵ou knew it was your duty to alert the authorities but you elected to balance the financial profit and commercial success of your business against Ahmad鈥檚 dark side.鈥
Ojiri was given a custodial sentence of two years and six months, with an additional one year on an extended licence.
According to his barrister, Kevin Irwin, Ojiri was arrested on 18 April 2023 in Wrexham while filming a BBC show. Irwin added that his client鈥檚 鈥渉umiliation is complete鈥 as he faced sentencing.
On the same day Ojiri was arrested, Ahmad was sanctioned by the UK government.
Authorities subsequently seized artworks stored in two UK warehouses, including pieces by Picasso and Warhol, valued at nearly 拢1 million.
