Fact-Check: Misleading! British-Nigerian Art Expert Ochuko Ojiri Did Not Plead Guilty to Funding Terrorism
BY: Mustapha Lawal
Claim:
Ochuko Ojiri, a well-known British-Nigerian art dealer and TV antiques expert admitted to terrorism financing offences.
Verdict:
False! Ojiri did not plead guilty to funding terrorism. Instead, he pleaded guilty to failing to disclose financial transactions with a sanctioned individual, a separate offence under UK law.
Full Text:
A post shared by the X (formerly Twitter) account @Nigeriastories on 9 May 2025 claimed that British-Nigerian art expert Ochuko Ojiri pleaded guilty to funding terrorism. The post, which quickly went viral, amassed over 1.2 million views and thousands of interactions.
The claim surfaced in the context of heightened global sensitivity around terrorism financing, particularly concerning individuals and organisations suspected of supporting proscribed groups. The post alleged that Ochuko Ojiri, a well-known art dealer and TV antiques expert, had admitted to terrorism financing offences.
This claim gained traction on social media and was amplified by several blogs and accounts. The post did not include links to official court records or credible media sources, yet it drew intense reactions from the public, many of whom accepted the claim without verification.
Verification:
FactCheckAfrica conducted a detailed review of reports from reputable news outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times, and Punch Nigeria. We found that the claim that Ochuko Ojiri pleaded guilty to terrorism financing is false. He was prosecuted for failing to report suspicious transactions, a legal obligation under UK law. Misrepresenting this as direct terrorism funding misleads the public and distorts the facts.
According to these reports, Ojiri pleaded guilty to eight counts under Section 21a of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 for failing to report suspicions of terrorism financing, not for directly funding terrorism.
He had sold artwork worth approximately £140,000 to Nazem Ahmad, a Lebanese businessman sanctioned by the US in 2019 and by the UK in 2023 for allegedly financing Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation.
Evidence presented in court indicated that Ojiri knew of Ahmad’s sanctions and discussed them with others but failed to notify authorities. Under UK law, such a failure is a prosecutable offence. Prosecutors stated that Ojiri was motivated more by the prestige of dealing with a notable collector than by financial gain.
The offence for which Ojiri was charged is not terrorism financing, but rather a failure to report suspicions of it, a significant legal difference. Under UK law, individuals involved in relevant businesses, like art dealing, are required to report knowledge or suspicion of terrorism financing.
Ojiri told police he did not support terrorism and was motivated by the prestige of dealing with a prominent art collector, not by financial gain. His case is the first of its kind under UK counterterrorism finance law
Ojiri, a freelance TV antiques expert known for his appearances on BBC’s Bargain Hunt and Channel 5’s Storage: Flog the Lot!, has not worked with the BBC since 2023. He is scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on 6 June 2025.
Conclusion:
The claim that British-Nigerian art dealer Ochuko Ojiri pleaded guilty to terrorism financing is false and misleading. He pleaded guilty to failing to report suspicious financial dealings with a sanctioned individual, which is a legal offence under UK law but not the same as funding terrorism.
