The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has granted Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr., popularly known as Shatta Wale, bail of GH₵10 million with two sureties to be justified.
In a statement issued late on Thursday, August 21, 2025, EOCO confirmed that the award-winning musician was invited to assist in ongoing investigations surrounding a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, which U.S. authorities have identified as proceeds of a $4 million fraud case involving Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national currently serving a jail term in the United States.
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According to EOCO, Shatta Wale was interrogated for several hours on Wednesday, August 20, before being granted bail around 9 pm. The Office explained that the artiste would only be released once his sureties have been presented and verified.
“Nii Armah was granted bail around 9 pm shortly after interrogation ended. He was granted bail of GH₵10,000,000 with two sureties to be justified,” the EOCO statement read.
The investigation is part of a broader cross-border collaboration between EOCO, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Justice. American authorities had earlier requested that Ghanaian officials trace the luxury vehicle and establish whether any local accomplices were involved in Amuah’s fraud scheme.
The Lamborghini in question was seized in May 2025 after being found in Shatta Wale’s possession. On August 15, 2025, a U.S. District Court in Kentucky issued an order authorising the American government to take ownership of the vehicle as restitution for victims of the fraud case.
This development placed the musician at the centre of an international financial crime investigation, raising questions about the authenticity of his claim to ownership.
Shatta Wale’s Explanation
EOCO’s statement revealed significant gaps in Shatta Wale’s account of how he acquired the luxury car. The artiste had publicly stated that he purchased the Lamborghini for $150,000, but investigators said he has so far failed to produce credible proof.
Dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale
According to EOCO:
“Charles Nii Armah Mensah has been unable to identify the person from whom he purchased the said Lamborghini Urus vehicle except to say that he purchased it from the ‘Street’ and from someone possibly called ‘ZAK’ who may have contacted him on WhatsApp but whose identity he does not know and whose contact he has thrown away.”
The only documentation provided by Shatta Wale was a customs declaration form bearing the name of Nana Kwabena Amuah, the same Ghanaian linked to the U.S. fraud case—further intensifying suspicions about the legitimacy of the purchase.
Events at EOCO
EOCO also gave details of the artiste’s appearance at their offices. Shatta Wale was scheduled to report earlier on Wednesday, but arrived late and initially showed reluctance to cooperate until his lawyer, Cephas Biyuo, joined him at around 5 pm. Interrogation continued until 9 pm, at which point bail was granted.
“Officers eventually left the Office around 11 pm,” EOCO noted in its release.
News of the bail has generated intense discussion across social media, with Shatta Wale’s loyal fanbase, the “SM Family”, expressing frustration, while critics argue that the incident reflects a broader issue of celebrity accountability in Ghana.
This case has not only put the spotlight on Shatta Wale but also highlighted EOCO’s role in tackling transnational organised crime. Under Act 804 (the EOCO Act) and Act 807 (the Mutual Legal Assistance Act), the Office has the authority to seize and investigate properties linked to suspected criminal activity, even when the offences were committed outside Ghana.
For now, the musician remains on bail pending further investigations, with both Ghanaian and U.S. authorities closely monitoring developments. Whether the case will lead to formal charges in Ghana—or further entanglement in U.S. legal proceedings—remains to be seen.
