Crime
[ICYMI] $4.7m US fraud: Ghana’s anti-graft agency, FBI seize Shatta Wale’s Lamborghini
The Ghanaian Economic and Organised Crime Office, in collaboration with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Justice Department, has revealed that it has seized a luxury vehicle, a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, from Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Charles Armah, popularly known as Shatta Wale.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by the acting Executive Director of the agency, Raymond Archer, and shared on X by Ghanaian TV station, Joy News, EOCO disclosed that the operation followed a request from the FBI and the US Justice Department in 2023, which culminated in a lawful search of the rapper’s apartment at Trassaco Valley Phase 1 in Accra, Ghana.
The search was carried out by EOCO’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit, leading to the discovery and seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus. According to the statement, US authorities have linked the vehicle to criminal proceeds of one Nana Kwabena Amuah, currently serving an 86-month sentence for financial crimes 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 operation which was undertaken by the Surveillance And Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) of EOCO led to the discovery and seizure of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus which the 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”, the statement partly read.
According to the statement, the vehicle was reportedly found in the possession of Shatta Wale, who was allowed to voluntarily surrender the car to EOCO operatives.
“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, and that if his supporters saw the vehicle being driven away in the company of EOCO, it would destroy 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 explained that SARU officers were armed during the operation, describing it as standard safety protocol. “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”, the statement added.
EOCO explained that further steps are being taken by US authorities to repatriate the seized car as part of the restitution owed by Amuah.
The anti-graft agency also revealed that Shatta Wale and a former senior officer of the National Signal Bureau (NSB) are being investigated in connection with the case.
It said, “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. 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 agency also confirmed that a final report may be submitted to the FBI and the US Justice Department as part of their collaborative efforts. “EOCO may share the final investigations report to the FBI and the Justice Department as part of our ongoing cooperation”, the statement concluded.
The controversial rapper had earlier posted a disturbing message on his Facebook book page, condemning the EOCO boss for storming his apartment with armed operatives of the agency. He wrote, “Raymond Archer, EOCO Boss, Ibe, you go make NDC go out of power next 4 years. Bringing guns to my house was uncalled for.”
In another post, he wrote, “EOCO boss, the president of Ghana didn’t put you in that office to come and humiliate the citizens of this country. Remember, God no sleep.”
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In a well-coordinated offensive aimed at dismantling criminal enclaves, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army (NA) / Sector 3 Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS) have successfully rescued seven victims abducted along the Chinkai–Kente–Wukari road on 3 August 2025 by suspected kidnappers.
Lieutenant Umar Muhammad, Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Brigade Nigerian Army disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, August 6.
According to the statement, the search and rescue mission, conducted on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 August 2025.
During the operation, troops encountered the kidnappers, who, overwhelmed by superior firepower and sustained pressure, abandoned the victims and fled.
Four victims were found unharmed in Chinkai Forest on 5 August, while the remaining three female victims were rescued on 6 August in Owedi Community, Wukari Local Government Area.
“The safe recovery of all seven victims highlights the Nigerian Army’s commitment and professionalism in combating kidnapping and ensuring the security of Taraba State residents,” the statement read.
“Commander 6 Brigade NA / Sector 3 OPWS, Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, commended the troops for their dedication, describing the operation as a major success in the fight against criminality.
“He reaffirmed the Brigade’s resolve to sustain aggressive operations to curb kidnapping and safeguard lives and property across the state.”
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The Ekiti State Police Command has recovered a day-old baby stolen from a government health facility in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Recall that the newborn was stolen at Okeyimi Health Centre on Monday, August 4, 2025.
The spokesperson of the command, Abutu Sunday, who confirmed the development on Wednesday, August 6, in Ado Ekiti, stated that the baby was recovered through a painstaking investigation and a credible tip-off.
The police arrested one Deborah Ayeni of Afao-Road, Ado-Ekiti, for stealing a newborn child.
The baby has been reunited with the parents, Mustapha Aliyu, 29, and 22-year-old Salmatu Lawal.
“The suspect, after her arrest today, being 6th August, 2025, confessed to the commission of the crime, and the child has been recovered from her,” the PPRO stated.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect has been going about with a fake pregnancy, and has been lying to the husband, who stays in the UK, that she was pregnant.
“She confessed that her decision to look for a child to steal was to cover up her lies about the fake pregnancy, since she had already collected a lot of money from her husband.
“The recovered child has been handed over to the parents, while the suspect will be further investigated and prosecuted accordingly.
“The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Eribo, while calling on everyone to be security conscious all round and at all times, implored citizens to continue to support and cooperate with the police by supplying credible and timely information that can lead to the arrest of criminal elements in the society.”
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Crime
How Emmanuel Nwude Sold a Fake Airport for $242 Million: One of the Biggest Scams in Banking History
In one of the most audacious financial frauds ever recorded, Emmanuel Nwude, a Nigerian businessman and former director of Union Bank of Nigeria, masterminded a scam so elaborate it fooled a major international bank. Between 1995 and 1998, Nwude successfully defrauded Brazil’s Banco Noroeste of $242 million by posing as Paul Ogwuma, the then-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The Fraud
Nwude approached Nelson Sakaguchi, a director at Banco Noroeste, claiming to represent the Nigerian government in the construction of a new airport in Abuja. He pitched the opportunity as a lucrative investment, promising substantial returns once the project was completed and operational. To bolster the ruse, he forged official documents, used fake telephone lines, and orchestrated meetings in Lagos and London, all to convince Sakaguchi of the project’s legitimacy.
By the time the fraud was uncovered, Nwude had received $191 million in cash and an additional $51 million in interest. The stolen funds were funneled through international banking networks and laundered into properties and luxury assets across the world.
Global Fallout
The scam came to light when Banco Santander, a Spanish bank, attempted to acquire Banco Noroeste in 1997. During a financial audit, auditors discovered a $242 million discrepancy in Noroeste’s accounts.
The shocking revelation led to the collapse of Banco Noroeste and sent shockwaves through the international banking sector, drawing attention to Nigeria’s growing reputation for advance-fee fraud, commonly known as 419 scams.
Arrest and Prosecution
Nwude’s downfall came with the establishment of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003. Led by Nuhu Ribadu, the EFCC reopened the case. Nwude and his accomplices were arrested and charged with 86 counts of fraud.
In 2005, after initially pleading not guilty, Nwude changed his plea in a plea bargain agreement. He was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to return a significant portion of the stolen funds and properties. However, it is widely believed that not all the money was recovered.
Aftermath and Asset Disputes
Following his release from prison, Nwude attempted to reclaim some of the assets seized by the Nigerian government, asserting that many of them were purchased before the scam. His efforts to regain control over these properties sparked legal disputes, some of which continued for years.
Legacy of the Scam
Emmanuel Nwude’s fraud remains one of the largest advance-fee scams in global history. It spotlighted the vulnerabilities within international banking and led to increased scrutiny of financial transactions, particularly those involving emerging markets.
More than a tale of crime, Nwude’s story is a stark warning about the cost of unchecked greed and the need for rigorous financial oversight. It also played a pivotal role in pushing Nigeria to reform its approach to financial crimes, paving the way for greater international cooperation in tackling corruption and fraud.
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