Akosua Serwaa Fosu, the plaintiff in the ongoing widowhood case involving the late highlife legend Charles Kwadwo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba, surprised the defence on Monday when she tendered photographs of what she says is their civil marriage ceremony held in 2004 in Bornheim, Germany.

The unexpected submission triggered strong objections from defence lawyers, who described the images as “surprises” and questioned their authenticity and timing.

Counsel for the plaintiff, William Kusi, introduced the photos during the cross-examination of Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, the 1st defendant and Ekuona family head of Parkoso, Lumba’s extended family. He asked the witness to identify the late musician in the images. After inspection, Abusuapanin Owusu confirmed that the man in the photos was his nephew, Daddy Lumba.

This confirmation, however, prompted defence counsel Dominic Kwadwo Osei and Kwadwo Owusu to object to the admission of the photographs, arguing that they could not verify the occasion or date since they had not yet cross-examined relevant witnesses. They insisted the plaintiff had unfairly introduced new evidence at the eleventh hour.

When the presiding judge, Her Ladyship Dorinda Smith Arthur, asked where the photographs originated, plaintiff counsel explained that they were part of marriage-related documents recently received from Germany. He said the delay in their arrival prevented him from filing them earlier. The court nonetheless admitted the images as evidence.

Tension Over Conflicting Photos

The defence faced further scrutiny over their own tendered photographs. During cross-examination, counsel for the plaintiff asked Abusuapanin Owusu where he obtained the pictures he had earlier submitted as evidence. The witness replied that he received them from Priscilla Ofori—also known as Odo Broni—the 2nd defendant, at Daddy Lumba’s residence.

When asked why Odo Broni appeared with a wedding ring on her left hand in the images, Abusuapanin Owusu replied, “Marriage rings are normally worn on the 4th finger on the left hand.”

A question regarding the occasion on which one particular picture of Lumba and Priscilla was taken drew another objection from the defence, but the court overruled it. The witness eventually said the picture was not from a marriage ceremony but showed “a couple dressed and ready to go out.”

Allegations of Photoshopped Evidence

The courtroom grew tense when counsel for the plaintiff probed further, suggesting one of the photos tendered by the defence could be doctored. He questioned inconsistencies in body proportions and similarities with other documents, implying the image “cannot be a photograph of Daddy Lumba and Odo Broni.”

Abusuapanin Owusu maintained: “I was not there when the photograph was taken.” But when reminded that an earlier defence witness had testified that no photos were taken at the alleged marriage ceremony at Lumba’s house, he agreed.

The case, which has gripped national attention due to the legacy of the late music icon, is expected to reach a crucial point as the High Court prepares to deliver its judgment on Friday, November 28.

This ruling will determine the legally recognised spouse of the late musician, and potentially the rightful claimant to his estate.