In a heartfelt defense, the son of the driver involved in the tragic accident carrying boxing star Anthony Joshua has insisted his father is not a reckless driver. The incident, which claimed two lives, has led to serious legal consequences for the driver.
Son Speaks Out Amid Family Distress
Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, the 19-year-old son of driver Adeniyi Kayode, broke the family's silence in an exclusive interview with The Guardian. He spoke after his father was taken to the Sagamu Correctional Centre to process bail papers set at N5 million (approximately £2,580) in bonds.
The young man described the family's situation as "hysterical" but mustered the courage to clear his father's name. He stated emphatically that his dad has never faced charges for reckless driving before this tragic event.
Details of the Fatal Accident Emerge
The Ogun State Police Command has charged Adeniyi Kayode with manslaughter. The accident occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the vehicle carrying heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and two friends rammed into a stationary truck. Sadly, Joshua's two friends did not survive the crash.
Ifeoluwa explained his father's account of the incident: "Dad is not a fast driver; he was following the speed limit when the brakes failed. He said he was pushing the pedal, but nothing was happening." He added that his father attempted to swerve to avoid the parked truck but ultimately hit it.
Highlighting his father's experience, Ifeoluwa noted, "He’s been driving Anthony for three years; he’s a good driver." The family expressed deep sorrow for the loss of life, stating they are "very upset by what happened and we are sorry for the deaths of the two people."
Legal Defense and Seat Swap Revelation
The driver's lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, also spoke with The Guardian in Sagamu, defending his client and labeling the crash a tragic accident. "My client has pleaded not guilty, and what happened was an accident," Abiodun stated.
He revealed a crucial detail about the journey that started in Lagos. Initially, Anthony Joshua sat in the front passenger seat, but the driver asked him to swap seats. "He did this because Anthony is a big fellow, and so the driver couldn’t see the wing mirror properly," the lawyer explained. Joshua then moved to the seat directly behind the driver.
Ifeoluwa corroborated this, saying, "I know that when the journey started in Lagos, Anthony was sitting in the front by the driver, but my dad asked him to sit behind because he was blocking his view." The group was close to their destination, traveling to see Joshua's family in Sagamu after picking them up from the airport.
Shifting blame to the parked truck, Ifeoluwa concluded, "It’s not his fault, if the truck wasn’t parked there illegally, this wouldn’t have happened." The legal proceedings continue as the driver maintains his innocence, attributing the catastrophe to a sudden mechanical failure.
