Oghenochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old art dealer recognized from the popular BBC antiques show “Bargain Hunt,” faced Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday, where he entered a guilty plea to eight charges concerning potential terrorist financing. The case centers around his sale of artworks to Nazem Ahmad, whom he reportedly knew to be a suspected financier for Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group that is designated by both Britain and the United States as a terrorist organization.
Prosecutor Lyndon Harris revealed that Ojiri conducted these transactions between October 2020 and January 2022, selling approximately £140,000 (around $186,000) worth of art pieces to Ahmad. Despite his previous affiliation with the BBC, where he provided expertise and advice to contestants on “Bargain Hunt,” the organization stated that Ojiri had not participated in any of their programs since 2023 and classified him as a freelancer.
This case raises significant questions about the intersection between the art market and issues of terrorism financing, a subject that continues to gain attention globally. As investigations unfold, further updates are expected regarding the implications of these transactions on the art community and beyond.
