Anthony Joshua attends funeral of his buddies killed in horror Nigeria automobile crash
Anthony Joshua paid his respects at the funeral of two friends killed in a car crash in Nigeria. The boxer’s strength and conditioning coach and trainer died
Anthony Joshua paid tribute as his two friends, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident, were laid to rest on Sunday (January 4).
Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele perished when the vehicle they were travelling in with Joshua collided with a stationary lorry on a major road near Lagos last Monday (December 22). Following the crash, Joshua was hospitalised before being discharged on Wednesday (December 31) and returned to the UK ahead of the funerals for Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, one of his trainers.
The former two-time unified world heavyweight champion shared two photos on Instagram on Sunday, showing him sitting next to his mother and three other women, one of whom held a picture of Ghami.
AJ captioned the post: “My Brothers Keeper.” The athlete then attended the funeral which started with prayers at the London Central Mosque this morning.
The two coffins were placed side by side as the Janaza – the Islamic funeral prayer – was recited. Hundreds of people had congregated outside the mosque gates before the coffins were transported to a nearby crematorium for the funeral service, reports the Mirror.
A wake took place later in the afternoon. On Friday (January 2), the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, who was driving the car with Joshua as a passenger, had been charged over the crash at the Sagamu Magistrate Court.
He faced charges of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence.
Last week, it was revealed that Joshua initially sat in the front seat of the vehicle but was asked to move to the back by the driver, a move that potentially saved his life.
After the driver was charged, his solicitor told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident, I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.
“He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver. From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.”
Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was holidaying in the African country following his sixth-round knockout victory over Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
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