Anthony Joshua, the former world heavyweight boxing champion, has returned to the United Kingdom following a tragic road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest aides. The 36-year-old boxer survived the crash with minor injuries, but Latif “Latz” Ayodele, his long-time personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, both 36, died at the scene. Funeral prayers have been scheduled at a mosque in London on Sunday.
The accident occurred on Monday along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, Ogun State, when Joshua’s Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside. After the collision, Joshua was treated in a Lagos hospital and discharged on Wednesday, remaining briefly in Nigeria to recover before travelling back to the UK.
The driver of the SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared in Sagamu Magistrates’ Court on Friday, pleading not guilty to charges of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, and operating a vehicle without a valid licence. He was granted bail at five million naira, with the case adjourned to January 20.
Speaking after the hearing, Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, described the incident as a tragic accident, suggesting that a last-minute change of seating positions may have prevented Joshua from being killed.
“My client maintains his innocence and insists this was an accident. He claims the brakes failed. Anthony Joshua initially sat in the front passenger seat but later moved to the rear because his size blocked the driver’s view of the wing mirror,” Abiodun explained. Latif Ayodele had then taken the front seat before the collision.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause. Early statements from the Federal Road Safety Corps suggested possible speeding and an attempted overtake, while the Ogun State Police indicated a tyre burst may have forced the vehicle into the parked truck.
Joshua, born in Watford, UK, but with family roots in Sagamu, had been travelling to visit relatives for the New Year celebrations. A family source told the BBC that he spent significant time in Nigeria after defeating American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19, before the tragic accident occurred.
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