In a dramatic legal turn, the Accra High Court has officially placed an injunction on the funeral of the legendary Ghanaian musician, Charles Kojo Fosu, popularly known as Daddy Lumba.
The funeral, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow, December 13th, at the Babaya Sports Stadium, will no longer happen as planned.
Here is the breakdown of the court’s ruling and the family feud that led to this last-minute cancellation.
Why Did the Court Stop the Funeral?
The injunction was sought by the maternal family of the deceased, who argued that they had been completely sidelined by the funeral organizers (the “first respondent”) in the planning process.
The court ruled in favor of the maternal family, issuing the following key orders:
- Restraining Order: The organizers are restrained from proceeding with the burial and funeral service until the final determination of the case.
- Body Withheld: The morgue/funeral home (third respondent) is restrained from releasing Daddy Lumba’s body for the service.
- New Date Required: The court ordered the organizers to convene a meeting with all parties involved (including the maternal family) to agree on a new date for the funeral.
- Separation of Funds: Funds raised during the one-week observation must be separated from the current funeral funds. The “Daddy Lumba Memorial Fund” cannot be used without proper accounting and separation.
The Mystery of His Death: Conflicting Accounts
The legal battle isn’t just about the funeral date; it’s also about how he died. The counsel for the maternal family revealed that there are “conflicting accounts” regarding Daddy Lumba’s death that need investigation.
- Account 1: He died at home.
- Account 2: He was hospitalized and died a day later.
- Account 3: He made a distress call to a friend who was denied entry to his house for two hours, only to be told later that he had passed.
Because of these discrepancies and a contested coroner’s report, the family insists that the autopsy report and police investigation must be concluded before any burial can take place.
Family Reaction: “Not a Disgrace, But Glory to God”
Evangelist Papi, who identified himself as a brother to the late musician, spoke to the media after the ruling. He emphasized that stopping the funeral is “not a disgrace” but rather a necessary step to ensure the “rightful thing” is done.
He criticized the current organizers for rushing the process (“You cannot use one week to say I’m doing a funeral for Daddy Lumba”) and for allegedly misusing power because they possess the receipt for the body.
What’s Next? All parties are now required to sign an affidavit to abide by the court’s ruling. The funeral is on hold until the families can meet, agree on a date, and the police conclude their investigation into the cause of death.
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