London art dealer Oghenochuko Ojiri has pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to disclose potential terrorist financing after selling artworks to Nazem Ahmad, a collector sanctioned by the US since 2019 for funding Hezbollah. The charges, brought by the Metropolitan Police’s National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, cover transactions from October 2020 to December 2021, with artwork valued at approximately £140,000 ($186,000). Ojiri, who owned a namesake gallery in East London and appeared as an art expert on BBC’s Bargain Hunt, allegedly filled out paperwork in other individuals' names to disguise Ahmad’s ownership of the works.
This case marks the first time someone has been charged under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 in connection with art sales, highlighting the growing intersection of the art market and international sanctions enforcement. It underscores the legal obligations of art dealers to conduct due diligence on clients and report suspicious transactions, especially when dealing with high-value movable assets like art that can be used to evade financial restrictions. The outcome may prompt tighter compliance measures across the art trade.