Shatta Wale Detained Over Seized Lamborghini in US Fraud Case, Supporters Rally
Shatta Wale Detained Over Seized Lamborghini in US Fraud Case, Supporters Rally
Supporters of Ghanaian musician Shatta Wale thronged the offices of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (Eoco) in Accra on Wednesday to express solidarity after his detention in connection with a seized luxury car.
The yellow 2019 Lamborghini Urus, worth $150,000 (£110,000), was confiscate earlier this month following a request by the United States, which alleged that the vehicle was linked to proceeds of a criminal enterprise, BBC reports.
Eoco confirmed that Wale voluntarily entered custody and was subsequently questioned about the car, which American investigators tied to fraud.
“The 2019 Lamborghini Urus was identified by the FBI and US justice department as being linked to a $4m ($3m) crime involving one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving jail in the USA,” Eoco said on Thursday.
Wale has strongly denied knowing or having any connection with Amuah, who was jailed in 2023 for seven years over fraud. He insisted he was a “third-party owner” of the Lamborghini and had no knowledge of who shipped it into Ghana
Wale’s management, however, issued a statement stressing that his detention was over “tax obligations” and did not address the US allegations.
“We want to assure all fans and the general public that his legal team is fully engaged and actively working with the authorities to resolve this matter,” the statement added.
After being questioned, Wale, whose real name is Charles Nii Armah, was granted bail of 10,000,000 Ghanaian cedis (£910,000; £675,000), according to Eoco.
The agency said he would remain in custody until it confirmed that the sureties required for his bail were satisfied.
The anti-graft agency previously stated that Wale’s Lamborghini would be returned to the US as part of efforts to provide restitution to Amuah’s victims.
According to US court records, Amuah and his accomplices impersonated vendors and defrauded nearly 70 public and private organisations across America.
The seizure of Wale’s car forms part of a wider operation between Ghana and the United States to dismantle international fraud networks.
Earlier this month, the FBI and US Justice Department extradited and arrested three Ghanaians accused of masterminding a $100m scheme involving phishing attacks and romance scams.
