London Art Dealer Makes Legal History with Terrorism Act Charges
First Ever Charge Under New Terror Law
Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, a west London art dealer, has become the first person ever charged under a key part of the Terrorism Act 2000. He faces eight counts of failing to report suspicious activity during his business dealings, offences said to have occurred between October 2020 and December 2021.
Crackdown on Terrorist Financing in the Art World
The charges come after a major probe by the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU), part of the Met Police’s elite Counter Terrorism Command. The investigation targeted terrorist financing networks and involved close collaboration with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) at HM Treasury, HMRC, which oversees art market regulation, and the Met’s Arts & Antiques Unit.
Ojiri to Face Court This May
Ojiri is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 9 May. His case is landmark, as it is the first to use section 21A of the Terrorism Act. This law requires businesses in regulated industries to report any suspicious financial activity that could be linked to terrorism.
This crackdown signals a new legal front in the fight against terrorism financing, with the art world now under the spotlight.
