Omotayo Fashola
The driver involved in the accident that left Anthony Joshua injured and claimed the lives of two of his associates faced a Nigerian court on Tuesday, as the boxer’s uncle questioned the necessity of legal proceedings.
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was behind the wheel of the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua and his two friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, when it collided with a parked truck.
Kayode is accused of reckless driving and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
Wearing black trousers and a hoodie, Kayode appeared subdued, shielding his face from the press outside the Sagamu courthouse in southwestern Nigeria.
“By God’s grace, our son survived. But dragging this man to court seems unnecessary to us,” Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, remarked during an interview at the family’s residence.
“Personally, I don’t see the point in this trial. Accidents are unpredictable—they can happen anywhere.”
However, he acknowledged local sentiments, stating, “The community believes he should face consequences for overspeeding.”
Initial findings by Ogun State’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) indicate the vehicle was speeding and suffered a tyre blowout before the December 29 crash.
Tuesday’s court session was brief, with the case postponed to February 25 at the prosecution’s request.
Kayode’s attorney, Olalekan Abiodun, consented to the delay, stating it was “for the sake of fairness.”
Authorities confirmed Ayodele and Ghami tragically lost their lives at the scene, while Joshua and Kayode escaped with minor injuries.
British reports identified Ghami as Joshua’s longtime fitness coach and Ayodele as his personal trainer.
Adedamola Joshua revealed that Kayode had worked as his nephew’s driver for three years without prior issues.
Joshua, a British-Nigerian athlete, often travels to southwest Nigeria to visit relatives and friends.
