Dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, was detained on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as part of investigations into his Lamborghini and related tax compliance issues.
He was later granted bail under strict conditions, including a GH₵10 million bond with two sureties. EOCO officials said his release will only be completed once all legal requirements are met.
Meanwhile, scores of fans stormed EOCO’s offices on Thursday, August 21, demanding Shatta Wale’s release. The protest highlighted the strong following of the artist, popularly called the “Dancehall King,” and the public attention surrounding the case.
Below are the full details on his detention released by EOCO
Charles Nii Armah Mensah, aka Shatta Wale, was invited by EOCO to assist in investigations surrounding a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a car identified by the FBI and the US Justice Department as proceeds of a $14 million crime involving one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving a jail term in the USA.
The investigation forms part of a larger probe regarding possible co-conspirators in the same crime, which occurred in the US involving some Ghanaians and recoveries of the proceeds of the crime.
Following requests from the FBI and the US Justice Department to EOCO to track the vehicle and conduct local investigations in respect of uncovering possible co-conspirators in Ghana, EOCO began looking for the vehicle until it was identified and seized in or around May this year, in the possession of Charles Nii Armah Mensah.
On August 15, 2025, a United States District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Central Division of Lexington, in a criminal case of the United States of America vrs. Nana Kwabena Amuah issued an order forfeiting a substitute asset on the Lamborghini Urus in question, authorising the US Government to take possession of the said vehicle in Ghana as restitution for the crime.
On August 5, 2025, following a public claim by Charles Nii Armah Mensah that he purchased the car at a price of US$150,000 from an unidentified party, EOCO invited him to report on August 13, 2025. The appointment was later rescheduled for August 20, 2025, at 10 am to assist with investigations.
Counsel for Charles Nii Armah Mensah indicated to EOCO officers that they would prefer to report at 11 am. EOCO readjusted its schedule to align with its time. Shortly before 11 am, Counsel for Nii Armah called EOCO to claim that his client was not available and that he was also busy. EOCO indicated to Counsel that he and his client were expected to report as scheduled.
Charles Nii Armah Mensah arrived at the office around 3 pm and insisted that he was not going to cooperate until his Counsel arrived, a right which he is entitled to and was accorded. EOCO investigators and Charles Nii Armah Mensah waited from 11 am till 5 pm before his Counsel showed up. Incidentally, EOCO’s closing time is 5 pm. Nevertheless, EOCO staff and the operational team chose to carry on with the interrogation, which ended around 9 pm. Officers eventually left the office around 11 pm.
Nii Armah was granted bail around 9 pm, shortly after interrogation ended. He was granted bail of GHC 10,000,000 with two sureties to be justified. Once the sureties are presented, hopefully this morning, EOCO will undertake surety inspection, which is a standard protocol, after which Charles Nii Armah Mensah will leave custody.
So far, Charles Nii Armah Mensah has been unable to identify the person from whom he purchased the said Lamborghini Urus except to say that he bought 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.
So far, Charles Nii Armah Mensah also does not possess any documentation in terms of receipt or transfer documents which show that he owns or purchased the said vehicle, except a customs declaration document in his possession bearing the name of Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is currently in jail.
