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| EOCO seizes Lamborghini from Shatta Wale in FBI-backed asset recovery operation |
Ghanaian dancehall star Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has found himself at the center of a high-profile investigation after his 2019 Lamborghini Urus was seized by Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in June 2025.
The seizure, conducted in collaboration with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice, stems from allegations that the luxury vehicle is linked to proceeds of crime orchestrated by Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national currently serving an 86-month prison sentence in the United States for financial fraud.
Background of the Case
The bright yellow Lamborghini Urus, valued at approximately $150,000, was reportedly purchased by Shatta Wale from Kwabena Adu-Boahene, a former Director-General of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau.
US authorities claim the vehicle was acquired through illicit funds tied to Amuah’s criminal enterprise, which involved sophisticated romance scams and business email compromise schemes targeting nearly 70 organizations across the US.
Amuah, described as the ringleader of the fraud network, was sentenced in 2023 and ordered to pay over $4.7 million in restitution to victims.
According to US court records, Amuah and his co-conspirators impersonated vendors to deceive public and private entities into wiring money to bank accounts controlled through shell companies, such as Gretson Company LLC.
One notable incident involved the City of Lexington, Kentucky, which was tricked into transferring housing assistance funds to a fraudulent account in August 2022.
While Lexington recovered its funds, other victims were less fortunate, with at least one business collapsing due to the financial losses.
The Seizure Operation
EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) carried out the seizure at Shatta Wale’s Trassaco Valley residence in Accra, following a 2023 request from US authorities.
The operation was described as lawful and professional, with no reported incidents during the search.
Shatta Wale initially pleaded with EOCO officers to keep the seizure confidential, citing the vehicle’s significance to his public image and brand.
He was allowed to voluntarily surrender the car, which is now in EOCO’s custody, pending repatriation to the US as part of Amuah’s restitution process.
EOCO clarified that it is standard protocol for SARU officers to carry weapons during such operations for safety reasons, addressing Shatta Wale’s public criticism of armed officers entering his home.
The agency emphasized that the process was conducted peacefully, despite the artist’s claims of intimidation.
Shatta Wale’s Response
Shatta Wale has vehemently denied any connection to Amuah or knowledge of the car’s alleged criminal origins, asserting that he purchased the Lamborghini in good faith as a “third-party owner.”
In a heated TikTok livestream, he claimed EOCO officers pressured him during the raid, alleging they threatened to “hand him to the FBI” unless he disclosed information about other luxury vehicles linked to Adu-Boahene.
“I bought the Lamborghini for $150,000 without knowing it belonged to Adu Boahene,” Shatta Wale stated, adding, “I’m leaving the car for you people.
Don’t come to my house, and nobody should invite me.”
The artist also took to social media to criticize EOCO’s acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, accusing him of orchestrating an act of humiliation.
“Bringing guns to my house was uncalled for,” Shatta Wale wrote, expressing frustration over the public nature of the seizure.
He further claimed he only learned of Amuah’s connection to the vehicle through EOCO’s August 5, 2025, press statement.
Ongoing Investigations
Both Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau have been named as persons of interest in the ongoing probe.
EOCO has indicated that they will be invited for formal interviews to assist with further investigations.
The FBI and US Justice Department are preparing a Mutual Legal Assistance request to the Ghanaian government to facilitate the return of the Lamborghini to the US, where it will contribute to the $4.7 million restitution owed by Amuah.