LONDON (AP) – Oghenochuko Ojiri, a 53-year-old art expert known for his appearance on the BBC's "Bargain Hunt," has pleaded guilty to charges related to the failure of reporting art sales to a suspected financier of the militant group Hezbollah. The legal proceedings took place on May 9, 2025, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, where Ojiri admitted to eight offenses under a section of the Terrorism Act 2000, specifically linked to art transactions made between October 2020 and December 2021.

Ojiri was involved in selling artworks worth approximately £140,000 ($185,000) to Nazem Ahmad, a dealer in diamonds and art who is sanctioned by both the U.K. and U.S. authorities for his connections to Hezbollah. The sanctions imposed were aimed at preventing businesses and individuals within the U.K. and U.S. from engaging in transactions with Ahmad and his enterprises.

According to U.S. prosecutors, Ahmad has amassed over $160 million (£120 million) through art and diamond sales while employing a complex network of companies to circumvent the imposed sanctions. Prosecutor Lyndon Harris highlighted that Ojiri was aware of the sanctions against Ahmad, stating that he had investigated news reports regarding Ahmad’s status and had engaged in discussions about his background with multiple parties.

During the court proceedings, Harris emphasized that Ojiri was part of conversations where knowledge of Ahmad's links to terrorism was evident among various individuals. Ahmad, who had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2019, is described as a prominent money launderer based in Lebanon, allegedly involved in the smuggling of blood diamonds harvested from conflict zones to finance acts of violence.

Two years prior to Ojiri's plea, the U.K. Treasury took action by freezing Ahmad’s assets due to his alleged financing of the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group, which has been recognized as an international terrorist organization. The implications of this case are significant, as it draws attention to the intersection of art sales and financing terrorism.

Ojiri, who has also featured in the BBC's "Antiques Road Trip," now faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years. His sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2025, in the Central Criminal Court, which will determine the extent of the legal repercussions stemming from his actions in this serious case involving significant international and financial implications.