Shatta Wale, a prominent Ghanaian musician, has been taken into custody as part of an investigation concerning the acquisition of a luxury vehicle, according to Ghanaian authorities.
Earlier this month, Wale’s yellow Lamborghini was seized following a request from the United States, which alleges that the vehicle is linked to the proceeds of criminal activity.
Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) stated that Wale voluntarily submitted to custody on Wednesday and was subsequently questioned regarding the car.
While Wale’s management did not address the U.S. allegations in their statement, they indicated that the artist was detained due to “tax obligations.”
EOCO reported on Thursday that the 2019 Lamborghini Urus was identified by the FBI and U.S. Justice Department as connected to “a $4 million crime involving Nana Kwabena Amuah, a Ghanaian national currently incarcerated in the U.S.”
Wale has denied any knowledge of or connection to Amuah, who received a seven-year sentence for fraud in 2023.
He has stated that he is a “third-party owner” of the $150,000 vehicle and was unaware of who shipped it to Ghana.
Charles Nii Armah, known professionally as Shatta Wale, is a leading figure in Ghanaian music.
He has achieved significant success with his interpretation of Jamaica’s dancehall sound and gained international recognition through his collaboration with Beyoncé on the 2019 song “Already.”
EOCO stated that following questioning, Wale was granted bail of 10,000,000 Ghanaian cedis (£910,00; £675,000).
The agency added that the musician will remain in custody until confirmation is received that the specified bail sureties can be met.
Meanwhile, a group of Wale’s supporters gathered outside EOCO’s offices in Accra, the capital city, to express solidarity with the musician.
EOCO previously announced that Wale’s Lamborghini would be returned to the U.S. to assist in compensating Amuah’s victims.
According to U.S. court records, Amuah and his accomplices impersonated vendors to defraud nearly 70 public and private organizations across the United States.
On Wednesday, Wale’s management urged fans to remain calm and refrain from speculation while the musician was in detention.
“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 read.
The seizure of Wale’s car is part of a larger initiative: Ghana is collaborating with the U.S. to dismantle an international fraud network targeting Americans.
Earlier this month, the FBI and U.S. Justice Department extradited and arrested three Ghanaian nationals alleged to be the masterminds of a $100 million fraud scheme, involving romance scams and phishing attacks.
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