Ghanaian dancehall star Shatta Wale has broken his silence following the seizure of his 2019 Lamborghini Urus by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), claiming he relinquished the luxury vehicle after learning it was linked to a shooting incident. The dramatic revelation comes amid an ongoing international investigation involving the FBI and the US Justice Department, which alleges the car was purchased with proceeds from a $4.7 million fraud scheme.
In a statement reported by TV3 Ghana on Tuesday, the musician, whose real name is Charles Nii Armah Mensah, said: “I agreed to release the Lamborghini after I was informed someone was shot in the car.” The comment has sparked widespread speculation and debate on social media, with fans and critics alike weighing in on the unfolding saga.
The seizure, which took place at Shatta Wale’s residence in Trassaco Valley, Accra, follows a 2023 request from US authorities to trace assets connected to Nana Kwabena Amuah, a convicted Ghanaian-American fraudster serving an 86-month prison sentence in the United States. Amuah, identified as the leader of a criminal syndicate, was sentenced in October 2023 for conspiring to commit money laundering after defrauding nearly 70 public and private organisations across the US.
EOCO confirmed the operation was conducted lawfully by its Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU), with the bright yellow Lamborghini now in the agency’s custody. The vehicle is set to be repatriated to the US as part of Amuah’s $4.7 million restitution order, pending a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) request from the FBI and the US Justice Department.
Shatta Wale, who has collaborated with global icons like Beyoncé, has denied any direct knowledge of the car’s criminal origins. In a separate TikTok Live session, he described himself as a “third-party owner” who purchased the vehicle in good faith from a local dealer for $150,000. “I don’t know any Nana Amuah. I’m just a third-party owner who bought the car in good faith,” he asserted, adding that he had no role in its importation.
The artist’s remarks have fuelled a heated online backlash, with some accusing him of negligence, while others defend his claim of innocence. “How do you buy a hundred thousand dollar car and not do a background check?” one user questioned on social media. Another supporter countered, “He’s a victim here; the real culprits should be held accountable.”
EOCO has designated Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of the National Signals Bureau (NSB) as persons of interest, with plans to invite them for further questioning. The agency emphasised that the operation was carried out professionally, with officers armed only as part of standard safety protocols, refuting the musician’s earlier claims of an “unprovoked armed raid.”
The controversy has added a new layer to Shatta Wale’s public persona, known for his flamboyant lifestyle and outspoken nature. In a Facebook post, he accused EOCO’s Executive Director, Raymond Archer, of leading the operation with unnecessary force, warning that the incident could have political repercussions for the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). “Raymond Archer, EOCO Boss, Ibe, you go make NDC go out of power next 4 years,” he wrote.