An art teacher’s been jailed for selling £140,000 worth of art to a suspected Hizballah financier. Oghenochuko Ojiri 53, of West London, was sentenced at the Old Bailey earlier today (Friday, June 6) after admitting eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector.
Ojiri was arrested on April 18 2023 in Wrexham, Wales, the same day the UK Government announced sanctions against Nazem Ahmad, a wealthy art collector, based in Lebanon, suspected of providing funding to terror group Hizballah.
Officers seized a number of artworks belonging to Ahmad held in two UK-based warehouses. The art – which includes work from Picasso and Andy Warhol and was valued at almost £1 million – was seized on May 4 2023.
WhatsApp messages on Ojiri’s mobile from January 31 2020 showed him discussing new money laundering regulations with a contact. During a police interview, Ojiri apologised, but denied that money or greed were behind dealing with Ahmed, claiming it was the kudos of dealing with a ‘name’ in the art collecting world.
Ojiri pleaded guilty to the charges, which relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 9. He was sentenced to two years and six months’ behind bars.
Commander Dominic Murphy said: “This prosecution, using specific Terrorism Act legislation, is the first of its kind and should act as a warning to all art dealers that we can, and will, pursue those who knowingly do business with people identified as funders of terrorist groups.
“Oghenochuko Ojiri wilfully obscured the fact he knew he was selling artwork to Nazem Ahmad, someone who has been sanctioned by the UK and US Treasury and described as a funder of the proscribed terrorist group Hizballah.
“Financial investigation is a crucial part of the counter-terrorism effort. A team of specialist investigators, analysts and researchers in the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit works all year round to prevent money from reaching the hands of terrorists or being used to fund attacks.”
Head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division Bethan David said: “It is clear that Oghenochuko Ojiri was aware of new money laundering regulations in the art world and that he had knowledge of Nazem Ahmad’s background.
“Ojiri engaged in activity designed to conceal the identity of the true purchaser by changing the details on invoices and storing Mr Ahmad’s name under a different alias in his mobile phone.
“His motivation appears to be financial along with a broader desire to boost his gallery’s reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector.
“This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way.”
Deputy Director of Economic Crime at HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service Louise MacDonald said: “This landmark case clearly shows how government and law enforcement is effectively tackling those who may fund terrorism.
“As a money laundering supervisor, we know criminals prey on weaknesses. That’s why we work tirelessly with sectors like the art market to ensure they have the defences in place to stop criminals in their tracks.”
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