U.K. Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Selling Art to Suspected Hezbollah Financier

A well-known British art dealer, Oghenochuko Ojiri, has admitted in court to selling artworks to a financier linked to Hezbollah, raising concerns about art transactions potentially funding terrorism.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, a notable art dealer who gained recognition on the BBC's "Bargain Hunt," faced Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday, where he entered a guilty plea regarding multiple charges tied to terror financing. The 53-year-old, also referred to as Ochuko Ojiri, confessed to eight counts of failing to report potential terrorist funding activities.

Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant organization financed by Iran, is classified as a terrorist group by both the U.K. and the U.S. The court heard that Mr. Ojiri regularly sold artworks to Nazem Ahmad, a known financier associated with terrorist activities and under sanctions by both the U.S. and U.K. government due to his connections to Hezbollah.

Between October 2020 and January 2022, the total value of artworks he sold to Ahmad amounted to approximately £140,000 ($186,000). Mr. Ojiri, who owns an East London art gallery, has frequently appeared as an expert on "Bargain Hunt" and various other television shows.

Prosecutor Lyndon Harris highlighted the seriousness of the charges, indicating the importance of vigilance in art sales to prevent involuntary contributions to terrorism. Although Mr. Ojiri was listed as one of “Bargain Hunt’s” experts at the time of the charges, the BBC clarified that he had not been involved with the show since 2023 and was operating as an independent contractor rather than a full-time employee.

This situation emphasizes the challenges in the art world regarding transparency and the intersection of commerce with security concerns. Further developments will continue to unfold as the case progresses.