Rita Odafe
Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, a 53-year-old Nigerian-British art dealer, has been charged with a terrorism-related offence following an investigation into funding for terrorist activities.
Ojiri’s arrest occurred two years ago, executed by the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit as part of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, and he is set to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court today.
According to the Met, his arrest is linked to a case involving Nazem Ahmad, a wealthy art collector and diamond dealer alleged to provide financial support to Hezbollah.
Ahmad, aged 60 and holding dual Belgian-Lebanese citizenship, is sanctioned by both the UK and the US for reportedly utilizing the British art market to facilitate an international funding operation for Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist group in the UK.
Ojiri, who has featured on BBC shows like Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, has expressed a deep passion for collecting contemporary art, including paintings and sculptures.
He faces eight counts for failing to disclose information while conducting business in the regulated art sector, in violation of section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. These charges stem from activities between October 2020 and December 2021, marking him as the first individual to be charged with this specific crime.
In 2019, the US Treasury accused Ahmad of laundering large sums of money and engaging in the smuggling of “blood diamonds” for Hezbollah. Following sanctions imposed against him, he was charged by US authorities in April 2024 alongside eight associates for violating sanctions.
In 2024, police raided a high-security storage facility near Heathrow Airport, confiscating nearly two dozen artworks belonging to Ahmad, believed to be tied to Hezbollah funding. Additional artworks he intended to sell were seized from a central London auction house. The collection included pieces by renowned artists such as Picasso and Andy Warhol, valued at nearly £1 million.
Ahmad faces multiple charges, including defrauding government entities and engaging in money laundering. The UK government has also sanctioned him, citing his extensive art collection and dealings with UK-based artists and galleries.
The US authorities are seeking to bring Ahmad to trial and have announced a $10 million reward for information about his location, as he is currently believed to be in Beirut.
