A Nigerian-British art dealer has been charged with terrorist crimes after police investigated terrorist financing.
Oghenochuko’Ochuko’Ojiri, 53, was arrested two years ago by officials from the National Terror Finance Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command and will appear in Westminster County Court today. The Metropolitan previously said the arrests were linked to an investigation into wealthy art collector and diamond dealer Nazem Ahmad, who was suspected of being a source of funding for Hezbollah.
Mr. Ahmad, 60, is a dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen, approved by the United Kingdom and the United States. He was accused of using the British art market to carry out international financing operations for Hezbollah, who was banned as a terrorist organization in the UK.
Mr Ojiri is known for his appearance on the BBC bargain And also appeared on the BBC Antique road trip. Mr. Ojiri describes himself as “absolutely obsessed with” contemporary art, painting, print, sculpture and painting.
Contrary to Section 21A of the Terrorism Act of 2000, he was charged with eight counts of failure to disclose in the course of business. The allegations are related to the period from October 2020 to December 2021. Metropolitan police said he was the first to be charged.
Mr. Ahmed was accused by the U.S. Treasury in 2019, involving a large amount of funds and was involved in the smuggling of Hezbollah’s “blood diamonds”. He was approved and then charged in April 2024 by the U.S. with eight partners for crimes involving violations of sanctions.
Police slammed the high-security warehouse near London’s Heathrow Airport in 2024, taking away nearly twenty works of art by Mr Ahmed, which they believe could fund Hezbollah. Meanwhile, at an auction house in central London, they caught the artwork Ahmad hoped to sell. Nearly twenty works include paintings by Picasso and Andy Warhol, with a total value of nearly £1 million.
Ahmad faces accusations of deceiving the U.S. and foreign governments, evading sanctions and money laundering. The British government also approved Mr Ahmed, saying he has an extensive collection of artworks in the UK and has business with several British artists, art galleries and auction houses.
U.S. authorities hope to bring Mr. Ahmed to trial and provide a $10 million reward for his whereabouts. They believe he is currently in Beirut.
