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British-Nigerian art expert pleads guilty to terrorism financing
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A 53-year-old British-Nigerian art expert, Oghenochuko ‘Ochuko’ Ojiri, has pleaded guilty in a terrorism financing case after failing to report a series of high-value art sales to a man sanctioned over alleged links to Hezbollah.
Ojiri, who has appeared as a freelance expert on BBC programmes including Bargain Hunt, admitted eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business under the Terrorism Act 2000. This marks the first prosecution of its kind in the United Kingdom.
According to a BBC report, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that between October 2020 and December 2021, Ojiri sold artwork worth £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a man sanctioned by the United States in 2019 and later by the UK government in 2023 for alleged support to the proscribed group Hezbollah.
Prosecuting, Lyndon Harris told the court: “There is one discussion where Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about [Ahmad’s] terrorism links.”
He also said: “Ramp Gallery engaged a third party to advise on compliance matters,” but added that the advice was “not properly acted on.”
Ojiri, who founded Ramp Gallery—now operating as Ojiri Gallery—in east London, dealt directly with Ahmad, negotiated sales, and congratulated him on his purchases.
The UK government previously noted that Ahmad had “an extensive art collection in the UK” and conducted business “with multiple UK-based artists, art galleries and auction houses.”
Hezbollah, a Shia political and militant organisation based in Lebanon and backed by Iran, is proscribed as a terrorist group by both the UK and the US.
Ojiri’s prosecution followed investigations by the Metropolitan Police’s specialist arts and antiques unit, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC.
Under the Terrorism Act, individuals are required to notify authorities if they suspect a business associate is involved in funding proscribed groups.
Ojiri is listed on the Bargain Hunt website as one of the show’s experts. He is not a BBC employee and has not appeared on any of the broadcaster’s programmes since 2023.
“It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings,” a BBC spokesperson said.
District Judge Briony Clarke granted Ojiri bail and ordered him to surrender his passport. His barrister, Gavin Irwin, told the court that Ojiri is not considered a flight risk.
Sentencing has been scheduled for June 6 at the Old Bailey.
Troops of Operation ENDURING PEACE, OPEP, in collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force, CJTF, have arrested a suspected kidnapper linked to the abduction of a resident in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
This was contained in a statement posted on X by the Nigerian Army.
The post identified the suspect as Buba Ali, 30, adding that he was arrested at about 12:45 pm on Sunday, August 9, at Binawa village in Kauru Local Government Area.
According to post, the suspect was arrested during a joint operation conducted by troops of Sector 7 OPEP and members of the CJTF.
It said the suspect was reportedly linked to the kidnapping of Alhaji Tasi, who was abducted in the village.
“Following his arrest, Ali was taken into custody and is currently being interrogated by security personnel.
“The ongoing investigation is focused on obtaining information that could lead to the identification and arrest of other members of the suspected kidnapping gang,” the Army said.
Nigerian ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected claims by an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, that Nigeria is a Muslim country.
In a viral video, Sheikh Jingir, who was preaching to Muslims at an event, said “if you don’t want to accept a Muslim-Muslim ticket, you should leave Nigeria because it belongs to us”.
The comment has continued to generate backlash online as Christians rejected the claim.
Reacting, Fani-kayode in a statement posted on his official X handle on Sunday night, said the cleric’s remark is unhelpful and untrue.
“Worse of all is the fact that it is highly provocative,” the former aviation minister said.
“Kindly take note that it is a very slippery and dangerous slope to take and is best avoided. Nigeria is NOT a Muslim country and neither is she a Christian country.
“She is a SECULAR and MULTI-RELIGIOUS state comprising BOTH Christians and Muslims in equal numbers and that is our strength,” FFK added.
He further stated that President Bola Tinubu’s Muslim/Muslim ticket for 2027 is gaining acceptance “only because of the calibre, ability, sincerity of purpose, character, utility and electoral strength of our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and their ability to deliver and not because they are Muslims”.
“One day we may have a Christian/Christian ticket too because with God all things are possible,” he added.
The Osun State Police Command has confirmed the release of the state Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Moyowa Adejoorin, who was arrested in connection with a shooting incident at an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally in Ilesa.
The incident occurred on Saturday and reportedly left four people injured, including a teenager identified as Tobi Ilesanmi.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adejoorin was taken into custody after police officers arrived at the scene, secured the area and began collecting evidence.
According to Ojelabi, the commissioner’s vehicle was stopped at the location, where an Amotekun operative allegedly linked to the shooting was also found.
“Immediately the incident was reported, our personnel moved to the scene and cordoned off the area before some exhibits were recovered, which included expended cartridges and Amotekun personnel caps.
“Also, Mr Adejoorin was arrested at the scene and taken to the command for questioning as part of the investigation process,” Ojelabi said.
The development came amid heightened attention to the incident after a video circulated on social media on Sunday showing Adejoorin leaving the police command.
Confirming the development, Ojelabi told Vanguard that the commissioner had been released on bail but said he was still awaiting clarification on the status of the Amotekun operative who was arrested alongside him.
“It is true that the commissioner has been released on bail today, but I am yet to clear the situation with the Amotekun personnel arrested with him,” he said.
Police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting are ongoing.
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