A BARGAIN Hunt star has been jailed for a terror offence after flogging artwork to the backer of a barbaric militant group.
Ochuko Ojiri – real name Oghenochuko Ojiri – was held following an investigation into terrorist financing.
He was the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Ojiri has now been jailed for two-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector.
The TV star, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, faced a maximum five years in prison for the offences, which took place between October 2020 to December 2021.
Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmad, a man designated by US authorities as a “major financial donor” for militant group Hezbollah.
Prosecutors in America believe Ahmad used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the organisation.
At the time, Ojiri knew Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US and read news articles about him.
Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said previously: “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 that Ojiri “dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales”.
The total value of the artwork sold was around £140,000, with the art sent to Dubai, the UAE, or Beirut.
Receipts released by the Met Police show the art included paintings by Charlie Roberts, Mónika Kárándi and an £8,500 piece by British artist Nigel Howlett.
Ojiri also flogged a £12,000 bronze sculpture by the same artist, as well as four pieces by Max Rumbol totalling £15,700.
One painting – Patty in Blue by Baldur Helgason – was sold to Ahmad for £20,000.
The court heard new money laundering regulations in January 2020 brought the art market under HMRC supervision.
Ojiri is said to have discussed the changes with a colleague – indicating awareness of the rules.
His charge came following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
The Treasury, HMRC and the Met’s Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved in the probe.
Police raided two UK warehouses to seize a number of artwork from Ahmad in May 2023.
Among the pieces, which were not sold by Ojiri, were two Andy Warhol paintings and a Picasso painting.
In total, the Met seized £1million in art, which was sold so the funds can be reinvested back to the police, CPS and Home Office.
Ojiri was previously the owner of an art gallery called Pelicans and Parrots that was dubbed “the coolest place in London“.
He sold a curated selection of contemporary furniture, houseware, and gifts until the store closed in 2021.
The antiques expert first appeared on screens on BBC show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
He then became a regular on popular daytime show Bargain Hunt, where he lends his expert advice to budding antique buyers.
Ojiri has also appeared on Antiques Road Show – travelling across the country as he attempts to make a profit on forgotten items.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This case is a great example of the work done by detectives in the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), based in the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
“The prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation is the first of its kind, and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, prosecute those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups.
“Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah.
“Financial investigation is a crucial part of the counter terrorism effort. A team of specialist investigators, analysts and researchers in the NTFIU work all year round to prevent money from reaching the hands of terrorists or being used to fund terrorist attacks.”
