Art dealer charged in terrorist financing probe

An art expert who has featured on BBC's Bargain Hunt has been charged with offences relating to terrorist financing.

Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, faces 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 Metropolitan Police said.

He is the first person to be charged with the specific offence, the force added.

Mr Ojiri, of west London, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The charges relate to a period from October 2020 to December 2021 and were authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service.

It follows an investigation into terrorist financing by officers from the Met's National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit. The Treasury, HMRC and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit were all also involved, the force said.

Described as an "expert" in a Bargain Hunt Q&A on the BBC's website, Mr Ojiri said he was "absolutely obsessed" with collecting contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings. He has also appeared on the BBC's Antiques Road Trip since 2021.

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