Ghanaian music star Shatta Wale has had his luxury Lamborghini Urus seized by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) following a joint operation with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice over suspected links to criminal proceeds.

The seizure, which took place at a residence in Trassaco Valley, Accra, was confirmed in a statement released Tuesday and shared by Joy News. EOCO’s acting Executive Director, Raymond Archer, disclosed that the operation was carried out based on a request made in 2023 by U.S. authorities investigating the financial dealings of one Nana Kwabena Amuah — a convicted fraudster currently serving time in the United States.

“In June this year, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, acting on a 2023 request from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Justice Department, undertook an operation which led to a lawful search in a home at Trassaco Valley Phase 1, in Accra,” the agency said.

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EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) led the search, which resulted in the seizure of the 2019 Lamborghini Urus. Investigators believe the vehicle was acquired using funds linked to Amuah’s illicit schemes, for which he was sentenced to over seven years in the U.S.

“The operation… led to the discovery and seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus which the FBI and the Justice Department have tied to the proceeds of the criminal enterprise of one Nana Kwabena Amuah who is currently serving an 86-month sentence for several financial crimes in the US,” EOCO noted.

Although the luxury vehicle was in the possession of Shatta Wale — born Charles Nii Armah — the operation was conducted without conflict. According to the agency, the artist cooperated fully and handed over the car voluntarily.

“The car was seized from one Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale. The officers were professional and civil, and the search and seizure occurred without incident. Nii Armah had pleaded with officers that he did not want the seizure to be made public because the vehicle was a big part of his brand… Nii Armah was allowed to surrender the vehicle himself, which is currently in the possession of EOCO,” the statement explained.

The agency also addressed concerns about the presence of armed officers during the operation, stating it followed standard safety guidelines for field agents involved in asset recovery missions.

“It is a standard safety protocol practice for officers of the Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) to carry weapons whilst on operation for the safety of officers,” EOCO clarified.

The Lamborghini is expected to be repatriated to the U.S. as part of a court-ordered restitution valued at nearly $4.7 million in connection to Amuah’s financial crimes.

“The FBI and the Justice Department intend to send a formal Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to the Government of Ghana to return the car to the United States as part of Nana Kwabena Amuah’s $4,743,443 restitution,” EOCO confirmed.

Shatta Wale and a former senior official of Ghana’s National Signal Bureau have both been identified as persons of interest in the ongoing probe and are expected to be invited for questioning soon.

“Charles Nii Armah, aka Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of the National Signal Bureau (NSB), have been assessed as persons of interest and will be invited by EOCO to assist in further ongoing investigations in the coming days,” the statement added.

EOCO further stated that a final report from the investigation may be shared with U.S. agencies in line with international cooperation agreements.

“Everyone Digging Borehole in Lekki Is Probably Drinking ‘Sh*t Water’” – Lagos Official

Residents of Lekki, Lagos State, may be unknowingly consuming contaminated water through their boreholes, according to a warning issued by Mahmood Adegbite, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum, Adegbite pointed to persistent flooding, poor waste disposal practices, and the absence of proper wastewater treatment as major contributors to water contamination in the area.