How Ochuko Ojiri ‘unknowingly’ funded terrorists

What happens when respected art dealer, Ochuko Ojiri , known for his charm on BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, finds himself at the center of a terrorism financing case?

It sounds like something out of a Netflix thriller. But for  Ojiri, it’s a harsh reality—and a wake-up call for anyone doing business in today’s complex, compliance-heavy world.

Ojiri, a 53-year-old British-Nigerian art expert who once ran the trendy Ramp Gallery (now Ojiri Gallery) in East London, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of failing to report high-value art sales to a sanctioned individual—Nazem Ahmad, a man accused by US and UK authorities of financing Hezbollah.

The transactions, worth £140,000, took place between October 2020 and December 2021. And while Ojiri isn’t accused of directly funding terrorism, the charges centre on his failure to report suspicious deals—a legal duty for anyone operating in a regulated business sector.

The prosecution said Ojiri had access to news articles, online records, and even conversations that made it clear who he was dealing with. Yet, he carried on with the sales. Despite hiring a compliance adviser, the gallery didn’t act on key recommendations.

And that’s the heart of the issue: he knew, or should have known, better.

This is the first prosecution of its kind under Section 21A of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, and it’s making waves far beyond the art world. For professionals in finance, real estate, tech, and beyond—especially those who handle large transactions—it sends a loud message: Due diligence is no longer a box-ticking exercise. It’s a business survival tool.

Ojiri’s case wasn’t about naivety or bad luck. It was about oversight, negligence, and perhaps the underestimation of how closely government agencies now track money flows—especially when they’re linked to sanctioned individuals or organisations.

As global sanctions grow tighter, and enforcement more aggressive, the risk of being caught out is no longer limited to big corporations. Small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs are just as exposed.

The UK government, like many others, maintains publicly available sanction lists. Ahmad, for instance, had been sanctioned by the US since 2019, and by the UK in 2023. His links to Hezbollah—a proscribed organisation—had been widely reported. Yet Ojiri engaged him, celebrated his purchases, and failed to alert authorities.

That failure turned what might have been a business win into a criminal offence.

What happened to Ojiri could happen to anyone who chooses to “trust their gut” over following proper checks. Whether you’re closing a property deal, onboarding a new investor, or selling high-end goods, you need to know who you’re doing business with—and document everything.

Ojiri has since been granted bail but was ordered to surrender his passport and avoid applying for international travel.