Dancehall icon, Charles Nii Armah Mensah [Shatta Wale], was held overnight on August 20, 2025, by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as part of an inquiry into his tax compliance, particularly concerning the acquisition of a yellow Lamborghini.
Although bail has been granted, Shatta Wale remains in custody due to unmet bail conditions. EOCO has since issued a formal statement outlining the scope and specifics of the ongoing investigation.
Read below the full statement
CHARLES NII ARMAH MENSAH AKA “SHATTA WALE” INTERROGATED AND GRANTED BAIL
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 $4 million crime involving, one Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian who is currently serving jail term in the USA.
The investigation forms part of a larger investigation regarding possible co-conspirators in the $4m 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 of 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 one 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 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 issued an invitation to Charles Nii Armah Mensah to report on August 13, 2025 which appointment was rescheduled for August 20, 2025 at 10am to assist with investigations.
Counsel for Charles Nii Armah Mensah, indicated to EOCO officers that they would prefer to report at 11am. EOCO readjusted its schedule to align with their time. Shortly before 11am, 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 in the Office around 3pm and insisted that he was not going to cooperate until his counsel arrived, a right which he is entitled and was accorded him.
EOCO investigators and Charles Nii Armah Mensah waited from 11am till 5pm before his Counsel showed up. Incidentally, EOCO’s closing time is 5pm. Nevertheless, EOCO staff and the entire operational team chose to carry on with the interrogation which ended around 9pm. Officers eventually left the Office around 11pm.
Nii Armah was granted bail around 9pm shortly after interrogation ended. He was granted bail of GHC10,000,000 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 would leave custody.
So far, 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.
So far, Charles Nii Armah Mensah does not also possess any documentation in terms of receipt or transfer documents which shows that he owns or purchased the said vehicle except a custom declaration document in his possession bearing the name of Nana Kwabena Amuah who is currently in jail.
SGND
HEAD PUBLIC RELATIONS
For: AG. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
DATE: AUGUST 21, 2025.
