The driver involved in the car crash that injured former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and killed two of his friends appeared in court Tuesday, as the boxer’s uncle questioned whether a trial was “really worth it.”
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was behind the wheel of Joshua’s Lexus SUV when it collided with a stationary truck on December 29, killing Latif Ayodele, Joshua’s personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his long-time strength and conditioning coach. Joshua and Kayode sustained minor injuries.
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Kayode faces multiple charges, including reckless driving and driving without a license. Dressed in black trousers and a hoodie, he appeared downcast in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria, avoiding journalists outside the courtroom.
Speaking to AFP at the family home, Joshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, said: “We are very lucky that our son didn’t die. But taking this man to court is something we don’t see any reason for. This is my own personal opinion—that the trial is not really worth it—because accidents can happen anywhere in the world.”
He added, however, that public opinion in the town seems to favor prosecution, saying, “We sense the opinion of the people…that he was over speeding.”
Investigations by the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) indicated that the SUV was traveling at excessive speed and had a burst tire before the collision.
Tuesday’s court appearance was brief. The judge adjourned the case until February 25 after the prosecution requested a delay. Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told journalists the adjournment was agreed to “in the interest of justice.”
Adedamola Joshua noted that Kayode had been his nephew’s driver for three years without any complaints. He added that Joshua, a British national of Nigerian heritage, frequently visits southwest Nigeria to see friends and family.
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