International law attorney, Asukwo Mendie Archibong, Esq., says the presence of a stationary trailer on a major expressway raises serious concerns about whether the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), fulfilled its legal duty to protect motorists. He explains that FRSC is legally responsible for ensuring highways are free from obvious dangers, including broken\u2011down or parked heavy\u2011duty vehicles that pose a predictable risk to fast\u2011moving traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to attorney Archibong, if the trailer involved in the crash had been left on the road for a significant period without reflective triangles, warning signs, or any attempt to tow it away, that could amount to a breach of FRSC\u2019s duty of care as well as the duty of care by the owners of the trailer. \u201cIf the agency knew \u2014 or reasonably should have known \u2014 that a trailer was blocking the road and failed to act, that would be a failure to carry out its statutory responsibility,\u201d he said. Nigerian courts have previously held government agencies liable when they failed to remove dangerous obstructions that later caused fatal accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Archibong notes that the final determination depends on the timeline. If the trailer broke down only moments before the crash, responsibility may fall more heavily on the driver or the company that owns the vehicle. \u201cThe investigation will reveal whether this was an unavoidable tragedy or a preventable failure of road safety enforcement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What began as an ordinary afternoon on the Lagos\u2013Ibadan Expressway turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak. A roadside hawker who witnessed the crash said the impact was so violent that many nearby mistook it for something far worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sibiat, who was selling goods along the road, said the sound shook the entire area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe bang from the impact jolted everyone,\u201d she recalled. \u201cFor a moment, we thought it was a bomb blast. People started running, shouting. When we realised it was an accident, everyone rushed toward the vehicles. Some people were recording, others were trying to pull the doors open to see if anyone could be saved.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said panic turned to disbelief when one of the survivors cried out for help, urging bystanders to check the second vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe kept shouting that someone inside was Anthony Joshua,\u201d she said. \u201cSome people didn\u2019t believe him until another man who stopped said he knew them from Sagamu.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Sibiat, the two men who died in the crash passed instantly. Joshua, she said, was conscious but in visible pain as rescuers helped him out of the wreckage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joshua\u2019s family said the news reached them with devastating force. A relative, who spoke anonymously, said the family had been expecting to see him soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe news of the crash came as a shock,\u201d the relative said. \u201cWe are praying for his recovery. For the two men who lost their lives, we pray their souls rest in peace. He usually comes home around the New Year. We hadn\u2019t seen him yet, so we were expecting him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jake Paul, who fought Joshua just 10 days earlier in a highly publicized Netflix bout, also reacted to the tragedy. Despite their rivalry, Paul expressed sympathy for Joshua and the families affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLife is much more important than boxing,\u201d Paul wrote on X. \u201cI am praying for the lost lives, for AJ, and for anyone impacted by today\u2019s unfortunate accident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Bola Tinubu said he personally spoke with Anthony Joshua and his mother following the crash. In a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said he offered his condolences and prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI spoke with AJ on the phone to convey my condolences over the death of his two associates,\u201d Tinubu said. \u201cI wished him well and prayed for him. He assured me he is receiving the best care in the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tinubu added that he also spoke with Joshua\u2019s mother, who expressed gratitude for the call. The President said he was in contact with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who visited Joshua at the hospital and assured him of full support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an earlier message posted on his official X account, Tinubu described the crash as a tragedy that \u201ccasts a deep shadow on this season.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI extend my deep sympathies to you following the tragic accident on the Lagos\u2013Ibadan Expressway, which claimed two precious lives and caused you injuries,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI sympathise with you and your family as you bear the emotional weight of this unfortunate incident.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tinubu praised Joshua\u2019s courage and discipline, calling him a source of national pride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn moments like this, we must encourage one another as brothers and sisters,\u201d he said. \u201cI pray for strength, wisdom, and grace for you during this painful period. May God grant you a speedy recovery and repose to the souls of the departed.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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