Driver in Anthony Joshua crash that killed two appears in court again | Boxing | Sport

The driver involved in a fatal car crash, which took the lives of two of Anthony Joshua’s closest friends in December, appeared in court in Nigeria on Wednesday. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared at Sagamu Magistrates Court in Ogun State and is facing charges of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, as well as driving without a valid driver’s licence.

He could face life in prison if found guilty. At a hearing on Wednesday, the court heard how prosecutors require more time to gather evidence, with his case being adjourned until March 13. Kayode, who first appeared in court in January but did not speak at the hearing, has yet to enter a plea to the charges. He was previously released from custody after being granted bail.

Sina Ghami and Kevin Ayodele were killed in a car crash on December 29, when a vehicle they and Joshua were travelling in crashed into a stationary lorry on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in south-west Nigeria. Ghami, the personal trainer to the former world heavyweight boxing champion, and strength and conditioning coach, Ayodele, were pronounced dead at the scene, while Joshua was taken to hospital for treatment on minor injuries.

It comes as Joshua paid tribute to his late friends in a YouTube video a month on from the crash. The 36-year-old said: “Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself lose like two great men, we lost people that we dearly care about.

“It’s tough, it’s really tough. I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. I know in today’s day and age it’s easy to micro-analyse people and pass judgement, but I know what I film and that’s all that matters to me. I know what my duty is.

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“They’re my brothers, my friends, first and foremost. Then we became business partners, we became hustlers, we became lieutenants, we became generals, we became everything. We became housemates, we were living together.”

After pausing briefly to compose himself, visibly emotional, Joshua continued: “Yeah, it’s a shame. It’s a shame. So there’s that side of things and what can I say? One day my time will come, and I’m not scared either. At all.

“It’s actually comforting knowing that I’ve got two brothers on the other side. I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that, my left and my right. Throughout this journey that I’ve been on…it’s not easy. I didn’t even realise that, I’m the big guy.

“But I was walking with giants, kept me protected, kept me shielded. But the mission must go on. I understand my duty I understand what they wanted to do for their families. So my goal is to continue to help them achieve their goals.

“Even though they may not be here in the physical, when I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually, they’re going to aid me through because it’s not just physical strength that’s going to get me through. It’s going to take a lot of strength from the higher power, so I’m going to be definitely saying my prayers and I’m going to help them fulfil their dreams for their families.”

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