Art Dealer Admits to Selling Artwork to Suspected Hezbollah Financier

Oghenochuko Ojiri, an art dealer known for his frequent television appearances, has admitted to selling art worth £140,000 to a suspected Hezbollah financier, raising serious concerns about his involvement in possible terrorist financing schemes.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old British art dealer and expert featured on the televised antiques show “Bargain Hunt,” has entered a guilty plea in a London court regarding his sale of artworks to an individual linked to Hezbollah financing. During a hearing held on Friday at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Ojiri admitted to eight charges related to failing to disclose potential financing of terrorism.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant organization with Iranian backing, is classified as a terrorist group by both the United Kingdom and the United States. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris reported that Ojiri sold multiple art pieces to Nazem Ahmad, a known suspected financier of terrorism, between October 2020 and January 2022, with the total value of these transactions reaching approximately £140,000 (about $186,000 at the current exchange rate).

While Ojiri had a history of appearing as a knowledgeable advisor on “Bargain Hunt” and other BBC programs, it was noted that he has not worked on any BBC projects since 2023 and operates as a freelancer rather than a direct employee of the corporation. This case continues to unfold, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.