BBC Pidgin of Thursday, 21 August 2025

Source: BBC

Ghana authorities detain dancehall musician Shatta Wale

Di musician dey under investigation afta Eoco tok say FBI link im lamborghini to proceeds of crime Di musician dey under investigation afta Eoco tok say FBI link im lamborghini to proceeds of crime

Di Economic and organized crime office (EOCO) don detain dancehall musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah wey dey popular as Shatta Wale.

Dis dey relate to investigation by di crime office afta dem seize im Lamborghini Urus car early dis month.

According to EOCO, dem bin work togeda wit federal bureau of investigation (FBI) for America to trace di car wey dem suspect say na proceed of crime.

Inside one statement at di time, Eoco explain say "FBI don link dis car to one criminal enterprise wia involve one Ghanaian Nana Kwabena Amuah, wey currently dey inside jail for di US as im dey serve 86 months for several financial crimes"

Di crimes office also add say di "FBI and di US justice department go send formal mutual legal assistance (MLA) to di Ghana govment to return di vehicle to di US as part of Nana Kwabena Amuah im $4.7m restitution."

Even though di dancehall star bin deny all di allegations say im buy stolen car wey im dey linked to di crime, Eoco tok say dem continue to invite am to assist wit investigation togeda wit one oda pesin wey be former senior officer for di kontris National signals bureau.

"I neva buy any car from di Ghanaian wey bin dey inside jail for di US. I be third party owner of di car wey I bin buy am for $150,000," Shatta Wale explain im side of di tori for TikTok live video.

Im add say "I dey buy cars thru my team wey sometimes I neva even sabi who ship am serf."

Shatta Wale accuse di boss of di economic and organized crime office at di time say im dey do "witch-hunt."

Di dancehall musician spend di night of 20 August in detention for Eoco.

Management of di artiste inside one statement tok say make di fans dey calm as dem bin dey work to release dia musician.

"Eoco don detain Shatta Wale following investigation wey relate to tax obligation of di yellow Lamborghini car. Di artiste present im self voluntarily to Eoco on Wednesday afternoon togeda wit im layer Cephas Biyuo to assist wit investigations."

Toktok pesin for di artiste Samuel Atuobi Baah write say "we want assure all di fans and di public say di legal team dey fully in charge wey dem dey work wit authorities to deal wit dis mata."

Oga Atuobi Baah add say "we bin dey take all necessary steps to secure im release at di earliest opportunity."

"Eoco bin grant di artiste bail in di sum of Gh 10m wit two sureties."

Di PR manager further explain say di artiste bin dey in good spirit wey im dey cooperate wit investigations.

Di latest action by Eoco to detain di musician happun a day afta im clear anoda Lamborghini Urus car from di port.

Shatta Wale and im team bin celebrate wey dem pop champagne afta dem carry im new purple coloured Lamborghini to im house Tuesday night.

Videos of di car and di celebration bin go viral on top social media, as di artiste tok say "what I tok say I go do, I dey do am and do am so real."

Di dancehall artiste get plenty followers, na so anytin wey concern am dey fit cause kasala on top social media.

Management tok say "we urge Shatta movement fans and well-wishers to dey calm and avoid speculation."

"We get confidence for di judicial process wey management and di lawyers go return to Eoco office Thursday morning to continue di discussion," di artiste im tok tok pesin add for di management statement.

Di musician wey bin dey described as 'dancehall king' afta im release song wit dat title for 2014, na ogbonge artiste for di kontri.

Im don release at least 11 albums and ova 60 songs for im career.

For 2019, Beyonce bin collaborate wit Shatta Wale on top one song 'Already' wey bin feature for her Lion King album.

Some of im most popular hits na 'dancehall King', 'Taking Over', 'My level' wey im don release anoda hit song togeda wit Medikkal and Beaztrap wit di title 'Shoulder'.

Im dey command ogbonge fan base wia dem call dem shatta movement

For December 2024, Shatta Wale na one of several global stars wey perform for Vybz Kartel im freedom concert for Jamaica.



Di musician recently dey part of high profile artistes wey perform for Vybz Kartel im freedom street concert for Jamaica