Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom following a devastating road accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two of his closest friends and trusted members of his inner circle.
The 36-year-old boxer was involved in the fatal incident on Monday while travelling in a Lexus SUV along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, Ogun State. The vehicle reportedly collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
Joshua survived the crash with minor injuries, but his long-time personal trainer, Latif “Latz” Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, both aged 36, lost their lives at the scene. Funeral arrangements have been made, with prayers scheduled to hold at a mosque in London on Sunday.
Following the collision, Joshua was taken to a hospital in Lagos, where he received treatment and was later discharged on Wednesday. He remained in Nigeria briefly to recuperate before travelling back to the UK.
The driver of the SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared before a magistrates’ court in Sagamu on Friday, where he entered a not-guilty plea to multiple charges connected to the incident.
Prosecutors accused Kayode of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, as well as operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s licence. He was granted bail set at five million naira, with the case adjourned until January 20.
Speaking after the court appearance, Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, described the crash as a tragic accident and suggested that a last-minute change of seating positions may have spared Joshua’s life.
“My client maintains his innocence and insists this was an accident,” Abiodun said. “He claims the brakes failed. I understand Anthony Joshua initially sat in the front passenger seat but was later asked to move because his size obstructed the driver’s view of the wing mirror.”
According to the lawyer, Joshua then moved to the rear seat behind the driver, while Latif Ayodele occupied the front passenger seat shortly before the collision occurred.
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the crash. Initial statements from the Federal Road Safety Corps pointed to possible speeding and an attempted overtake, while Ogun State Police later indicated that a tyre burst may have caused the vehicle to veer into the parked truck.
Joshua, who was born in Watford but has family roots in Sagamu, had reportedly been travelling to visit relatives for New Year celebrations. A family source told the BBC that the boxer had been spending significant time in Nigeria following his victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19.
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