Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has attended the funeral of two close friends who were killed in a car crash while he was a passenger in Nigeria.
Funeral Service Held in London
The sombre ceremony took place on Sunday, beginning with prayers at the London Central Mosque. The coffins of Sina Ghami, Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, and Latif 'Latz' Ayodele, one of his trainers, were placed side-by-side as the Islamic funeral prayer, the Janaza, was read.
Hundreds of members of the public gathered outside the mosque before the coffins were taken to a nearby crematorium for the funeral service. A wake followed in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Joshua posted two images on Instagram, sitting with his mother and three other women. One of the women held a photograph of Ghami. The boxer captioned the poignant post 'My Brothers Keeper'.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The tragic incident occurred last Monday near Lagos, Nigeria. The vehicle carrying Joshua and his friends struck a stationary truck on a major road.
Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele died at the scene. Joshua was taken to hospital and was discharged the following Wednesday. He subsequently flew back to the UK ahead of the funerals.
In a twist of fate that likely saved his life, it emerged that Joshua had initially sat in the front passenger seat. The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, asked him to move to the back, reportedly because Joshua's size obstructed the wing mirror. Ayodele then took the front seat.
Driver Charged by Nigerian Police
On Friday, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that the driver, Kayode, had been charged in connection with the crash at the Sagamu Magistrate Court.
He faces multiple charges, including:
- Causing death by dangerous driving
- Reckless and negligent driving
- Driving without due care
- Driving without a valid driver's licence
Kayode's lawyer stated that his client had pleaded not guilty, claiming the incident was an accident and that "the brakes did not work."
Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, had been on holiday in the country following his knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December.
