BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri today admitted a terror offence after failing to report £140,000 worth of art sales to a man he knew had been accused of raising money for Hezbollah.
The 53-year-old art dealer, who has also appeared on the BBC ‘s Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector between October 2020 and December 2021.
Ojiri, wearing a grey suit, large clear glasses and a blue polka dot tie, stood in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today to plead guilty to all eight charges under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The antiques specialist, from west London, was previously the owner of a vintage shop in the capital called Pelicans & Parrots that was dubbed ‘the coolest place in London’ before shutting its doors in October 2021.
He first appeared on screens on the BBC‘s Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. He then became a regular on Bargain Hunt, gaining a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats.
Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for Hezbollah, which is proscribed as a terror group in the UK.
BBC Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip star Ochuko Ojiri has appeared in court charged over alleged terrorist group funding – he is seen here today outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Ochuko Ojiri, 53, has been a regular face on BBC shows for several years
Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen who is sanctioned by both the UK and US, a court heard today
‘There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it was said he had known for years about Mr Ahmad’s activities as a suspected terrorist financier,’ Mr Harris told the court.
‘Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmad’s designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.
‘There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links.’
Mr Harris said Ojiri ‘dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales’.
Ahmad, 60, has been accused of using the fine art market to run an international financing operation for Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political and terrorist group based in Lebanon that is known for its opposition to Israel.
The US Treasury has also accused him of being involved in the sale of ‘blood diamonds’ to raise funds for Hezbollah.
Following the introduction of new money laundering regulations in January 2020 that brought the art market under HMRC supervision, Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague, indicating awareness of the rules.
‘Mr Ojiri communicated to a colleague that he knew that these regulations applied to him and his business,’ Mr Harris said.
The 53-year-old art dealer, who has featured on the hit BBC shows for several years, attended Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning
Police said that he had become the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000
‘Over the course of the period, Mr Ojiri dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated sales of artwork, congratulated him on purchases, and the total value of the sales of the artwork was approximately £140,000. The art appears to have been sent to either Dubai or Beirut.’
Mr Harris said the maximum sentence for the offences was five years, as the lawyer requested conditional bail which would require Ojiri to surrender his passport and not apply for any travel documents.
This request was granted by the Judge Briony Clarke, who committed Ojiri for sentencing at the Old Bailey in central London on June 6.
Gavin Irwin, mitigating for Ojiri, told the court: ‘He is not a flight risk. The fact that he is here – he has left the UK and has always returned knowing he may be charged with offences – he will be here on the next occasion.’
Ojiri has previously also starred on Antiques Road Trip since 2021 – travelling around the UK while attempting to make a profit on forgotten items.
Away from his broadcast career, Ojiri founded the Ramp Gallery, a venue specialising in emerging and contemporary artists.
He has described his love of collecting items including contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings – telling the BBC: ‘I’m absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated.’
Asked what he liked about appearing on Bargain Hunt, he said: ‘Who doesn’t like a bargain? I certainly do. I also love the passion of the contestants, and their many likes and dislikes.’
The TV personality has been charged over alleged offences said to have occurred between October 2020 and December 2021
Ojiri has gained a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats
‘When I find something I love my heart pounds. There’s no other feeling like it.’
The investigation that prompted the charges against Ojiri was carried out by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, which is part of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
The Treasury, HMRC and the Met’s Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved in the probe, police said.
Ojiri has not worked on BBC programmes since 2023. A BBC spokesman said ahead of today’s hearing: ‘It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.’
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