Anthony Joshua’s Family Pleads For Mercy As Uncle Says Driver Should Not Go To Prison

Anthony Joshua’s family has taken a compassionate stance following the tragic road accident that claimed two lives, making it clear they are not seeking imprisonment for the driver involved.

The British-Nigerian boxing icon’s uncle, Adedamola, has revealed that neither Joshua nor their family wants Adeniyi Kayode, the driver behind the wheel during the fatal crash, to be jailed.

Tragic Accident On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The incident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, along the Lagos-Ibadan motorway at the Makun area of Ogun State.

Kayode, 46, who has worked as Anthony Joshua’s driver for the past three years, was driving a Lexus 570 SUV when it rear-ended a stationary truck. The crash resulted in the deaths of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, close associates of the former heavyweight champion.

Both Joshua and Kayode survived the accident. Joshua has since returned to England to continue mourning his friends, while Kayode now faces legal proceedings in Nigeria.

Legal Charges And Court Proceedings

Kayode has been charged with four counts, including:

• dangerous driving causing death

• reckless and negligent driving

• driving without a valid national driver’s licence

He was arraigned at a Sagamu Magistrate’s Court on January 2, where the case was adjourned to January 20 and bail was set at ₦5 million.

When the court reconvened, Magistrate Olajumoke Somefu adjourned the case once again to February 25, following a request from the prosecution. According to reports, the prosecution sought time to forward the case file to the Ogun State Attorney-General’s Office through the Department of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Despite objections from Kayode’s defence counsel, who insisted they were ready to proceed, the court ruled in favour of the prosecution.

What Anthony Joshua’s Uncle Said

Speaking to Punch, Adedamola emphasized that Joshua is deeply religious and views the incident as an act of God, urging authorities to show mercy.

“Our son is so much deep in religion and taking everything by faith; he will not want anything to happen to the driver,” he said.

“I see closeness between them, and he will not like him to go to jail because he has got his own family, and the children will suffer.

“The family is also not interested in him being jailed because an accident can happen anywhere in the world. Let’s move forward.”

Driver’s Defence: Brake Failure Claim

Kayode’s defence is expected to hinge on claims already made publicly by him, his lawyer, and his son. They have denied overspeeding, instead attributing the crash to brake failure, which allegedly caused him to lose control of the vehicle.

As the legal process continues, the case remains one of the most emotionally charged involving a global sports figure in recent times, highlighting the delicate balance between justice, compassion, and tragedy.

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