Bargain Hunt star arrives at court over terror charges
Bargain Hunt star Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, England after being charged on charges related to "terrorist financing".
The TV personality has been charged with eight charges of "failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector", following an investigation into alleged "terrorist financing". The Metropolitan Police have stated that these offences are believed to have taken place between October 2020 and December 2021.
Known also as Ochuko Ojiri, the Bargain Hunt star is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday. This marks the first charge of its kind under section 21A of the Terrorism Act of 2000, according to the force.
The investigation was conducted by the Met's specialist arts and antiques unit, in collaboration with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC. The BBC, in a statement, said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
In a statement, the Met said: "Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53 (05.05.72), of west London, has been charged following an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command.
"Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, he has been charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. The charges relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021."
They added: "The investigation has been carried out in partnership with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in HM Treasury, HMRC (the organisation that regulates the art sector), and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit."
Mr Ojiri, who is listed as one of Bargain Hunt's experts on the show's website, works as a freelance presenter and is not a BBC staff member. He has also featured on Antiques Road Trip and Channel 5's Storage: Flog the Lot!
He has not worked on any BBC programmes since 2023. Mr Ojiri is also the founder of the Ramp Gallery, a contemporary art showroom now known as the Ojiri Gallery, based in east London, which specialises in emerging and contemporary artists.
He grew up with a love for the arts and eventually started a career in antiques. Ojiri said: "No other industry would accept my rare mixture of sarcasm, cynicism and passion. Ha-ha!"
The antique expert opened his own vintage shop and art gallery called Pelicans & Parrots with Juliet Da Silva on Stoke Newington Road in Dalston, London. It sold contemporary furniture, houseware and gifts.
They were able to get the right to serve alcohol on the premises to support pop-up events. Ojiri told the local council about his business's success in 2019: "We've been trading since 2010, and have been integral to the regeneration of the area. We're very proud of what we've achieved in those nine years. We've taken risks and we're proudly part of the community."
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