Latest news with #OchukoOjiri
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The Hezbollah 'financier' linked to BBC Bargain Hunt star: Wealthy art collector Nazem Ahmad is a suspected 'blood diamond' dealer and money launderer who is sanctioned by Britain and US 'for funding terror group'
Dressed in blue jeans and reclining in a sleek leather armchair, he looks every inch the high-flying international businessman. But Nazem Ahmad is in fact a wanted man - accused by the US and UK of using his role as an art collector and diamond trader to raise funds for Hezbollah, the brutal Iran-backed terror group. The 60-year-old was today named in court as a business contact of art dealer and BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri, who had been accused of selling Ahmad £140,000 worth of art in 2020 and 2021 despite being aware of his background. Today, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Ojiri dramatically pleaded guilty to eight charges under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000 by failing to report the transactions to the authorities. According to prosecutors, Ojiri first struck up a business relationship with Ahmad in October 2020. By this point, Ahmad had already been sanctioned by the US Treasury, with officials accusing the dual Belgian-Lebanese national of being a 'major' donor to Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist militant group dedicated to the destruction of Israel. A wanted poster issued by American officials makes it clear they consider Ahmad to be a serious player, with a $10million (£7.52m) reward offered for information on his whereabouts. Alongside money laundering and terrorism financing, he is also alleged to be involved in the smuggling of 'blood diamonds' - a term used for stones mined in conflict zones before being traded on the black market. None of this appears to have stopped Ojiri from working with Ahmad while director of his eponymous Ojiri Gallery in the trendy London district of Shoreditch. According to prosecutors, he was fully aware Ahmad had been sanctioned by the US, reading news reports about him on his phone while openly discussing the diamond dealer's alleged links to global terror. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris today told a judge that Ojiri 'dealt with Mr Ahmad directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales'. The businessman had first been sanctioned as a terrorist financier by the US Treasury in 2019. In April 2024, he was charged by the US alongside eight associates of using front companies to acquire more than £120 million in artwork and diamond services. British police played a key role in the case against him, swooping on a high-security depot at Heathrow Airport last year before seizing nearly two dozen works of art in his collection. Linked raids at a London auction house recovered more works he had been planning to sell, including paintings by Picasso and Andy Warhol. The proceeding years had seen a tightening of money laundering regulations that, 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. Counter-terror police investigating Ahmad's business dealings first arrested Ojiri in April 2023, but he claimed to be unaware of his alleged links to terror. But he backtracked in a second interview in July 2023, admitting to officers that he knew he was the subject of US sanctions. According to a CPS summary to a CPS summary of the interview, Ojiri told officers that links with Ahmad were seen as a 'great accolade' due to his reputation in the art work. He said he was 'sorry' for his actions and claimed to have been motivated by the 'excitement and kudos of dealing with a ''name'' in the collecting world', rather than greed. Prosecutors say the artwork sold by Ojiri appears to have been sent to Dubai, the UAE or Beirut - where Ahmad is currently believed to be located. Ojiri, meanwhile, is awaiting sentencing at the Old Bailey on June 6. It represents a dramatic downfall for the previously respected antiques specialist, who first appeared on screens on the BBC's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. He then became a regular on Bargain Hunt, gaining a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats, before also appearing on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip. Away from the TV screen, he owned a vintage shop in the capital called Pelicans & Parrots, which was dubbed 'the coolest place in London' before shutting its doors in October 2021. Ojiri has described his love of collecting items including contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings - telling the BBC: 'I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated.' Today, district judge Briony Clarke granted bail but ordered him to surrender his passport and not to apply for international travel documents. He now faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. In the UK, the entirety of Hezbollah - both its military and political wings - has been banned as a terrorist group since 2019.
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bargain Hunt star pleads guilty to eight charges relating to funding terrorism
Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri has pleaded guilty to eight charges relating to terrorist financing. The Antiques Road Trip star was seen arriving at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday morning. The 53-year-old art dealer was the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. His charges included eight counts 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 previously stated that the offences are believed to have taken place between October 2020 and December 2021. The BBC recently said in a statement: "It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings." In a statement, the Metropolitan Police 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." * This is a breaking showbiz news story. Join The Mirror 's WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads - or visit The Mirror homepage.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS BBC Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri arrives at court after being charged with eight offences relating to terrorist financing
BBC Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip star Ochuko Ojiri has appeared in court charged over alleged terrorist funding. The 53-year-old art dealer, who has featured on the hit BBC shows for several years, attended Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning. He is the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. This includes eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector. The charges against the TV personality, whose full name is Oghenochuko Ojiri, relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021. Ojiri, from west London, was previously the owner of a vintage shop in the capital called Pelicans & Parrots that shut its doors in 2021. The shop, which was dubbed 'the coolest place in London', sold contemporary furniture, curated houseware and gifts. Ojiri, an antiques specialist, first appeared on screens on the BBC's Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. He then became a regular on Bargain Hunt, gaining a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats. Ojiri has also starred on Antiques Road Trip since 2021 - travelling around the UK while attempting to make a profit on forgotten items. Away from his broadcast career, Ojiri founded the Ramp Gallery, a venue specialising in emerging and contemporary artists. He has previously described his love of collecting items including contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings. 'I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated,' he told the BBC. Asked what he liked about appearing on Bargain Hunt, he said: 'Who doesn't like a bargain? I certainly do. 'I also love the passion of the contestants, and their many likes and dislikes.' Ojiri said he also enjoyed travelling during his television work, adding: 'Every time you set out, it's an adventure with endless possibilities. Ojiri has gained a reputation for his enthusiastic on-screen demeanor and love of hats 'When I find something I love my heart pounds. There's no other feeling like it.' The investigation that prompted the charges against Ojiri was carried out by officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), which is part of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command. The Treasury, HMRC and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved in the probe, police said. Ojiri has not worked on BBC programmes since 2023. A BBC spokesman said: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.'
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri arrives at court charged with terror offence following police probe
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BARGAIN Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri has arrived at court after he was charged with a terror offence. The 53-year-old art dealer - real name Oghenochuko Ojiri - was held following a Met Police probe into terrorist financing. 4 Ochuko Ojiri has been charged with a terror offence Credit: Getty 4 The star is known for his work on Bargain Hunt Credit: BBC Ojiri has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first appearance. The TV star, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, is charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector. The offences allegedly took place between October 2020 to December 2021. Ojiri is the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. It 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. 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. Away from the screen, he is an avid collector of contemporary art and helped launch the London-based Ramp Gallery, which champions emerging artists. He previously told the BBC: "Contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings. "I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated." In a statement the BBC said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings." 4 Ojiri started his career as an art dealer
The Sun
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri arrives at court charged with terror offence following police probe
BARGAIN Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri has arrived at court after he was charged with a terror offence. The 53-year-old art dealer - real name Oghenochuko Ojiri - was held following a Met Police probe into terrorist financing. 4 Ojiri has arrived at Westminster Magistrates' Court for a first appearance. The TV star, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, is charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector. The offences allegedly took place between October 2020 to December 2021. Ojiri is the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000. It 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. 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. Away from the screen, he is an avid collector of contemporary art and helped launch the London-based Ramp Gallery, which champions emerging artists. He previously told the BBC: "Contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings. "I'm absolutely obsessed, in love and infatuated." In a statement the BBC said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings." 4 4
