The tragic road accident involving former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has cast a sombre shadow over the start of the new year, following confirmation from Nigerian police that his driver has been formally charged. The crash, which occurred on a major highway in south-west Nigeria, left Joshua injured and claimed the lives of two senior members of his professional team, deeply affecting the boxer, his family, and the global boxing community.
Authorities have identified the driver as Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, a 46-year-old Nigerian national, who appeared before the Sagamu Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State on Friday. According to police sources, prosecutors have brought multiple charges against him, including causing death by dangerous driving. The legal proceedings mark a critical step in the official investigation into an incident that has prompted renewed scrutiny of road safety on one of Nigeria’s busiest expressways.
Joshua, 36, was travelling as a passenger when the vehicle he was in collided with a stationary truck. While he survived the crash and has since been discharged from hospital, the loss of his long-time personal trainer and strength coach has underscored the devastating human cost of the accident.
Details of the Crash and Legal Charges
The fatal collision took place on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, a heavily trafficked route connecting Nigeria’s commercial hub to several south-western states. Joshua was travelling in a black Lexus SUV with members of his entourage when the vehicle struck a parked truck on the highway near the town of Sagamu in Ogun State. Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly after the crash, but two of Joshua’s team members were pronounced dead on site.
Police sources told the BBC that driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode faces four charges in total. These include causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. Such charges, if proven, carry serious legal consequences under Nigerian law, particularly where loss of life is involved.
Mr Kayode was granted bail set at 5,000,000 naira, equivalent to approximately £2,578. He has been remanded pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions, and the case has been adjourned until 20 January. Court officials have not yet disclosed whether Mr Kayode entered a plea during his initial appearance.
The crash has also drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the stationary truck that was struck. While investigators have not publicly detailed why the truck was parked on the expressway or whether it was properly marked, such factors are often examined as part of broader road traffic investigations. Nigeria’s highways are frequently criticised for poor enforcement of safety regulations, inadequate signage, and the presence of broken-down vehicles left on major roads, particularly at night.
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Images shared by the Federal Road Safety Corps showed the mangled SUV beside emergency vehicles, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. The visuals highlighted the severity of the impact and reinforced the scale of the tragedy that unfolded in the early hours of the week.
Loss of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami
The two men who lost their lives in the crash were Latif Ayodele, Joshua’s personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach. Both were key figures in Joshua’s professional life and were widely regarded as trusted confidants as well as colleagues. Their deaths have been met with an outpouring of tributes from across the boxing world and beyond.
Mr Ayodele had worked closely with Joshua for years and was often seen alongside him during training camps and public appearances. Just hours before the crash, Joshua had shared a video on Instagram showing the two men playing table tennis, a moment that has since taken on heartbreaking significance. Mr Ghami, meanwhile, was responsible for overseeing Joshua’s physical conditioning and was credited with playing a vital role in maintaining the boxer’s elite athletic performance.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene, according to emergency officials. Their bodies were later taken to a funeral home, where preparations are under way for repatriation. Ogun and Lagos state authorities said in a joint statement that Joshua was “heavy hearted” following the deaths of his close friends. After being discharged from hospital on Wednesday, he visited the funeral home to pay his respects.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s long-time promoter, also paid tribute, describing the pair as loyal, energetic, and deeply valued members of the team. In a message shared on social media, Hearn expressed condolences to their families and spoke of the profound impact their loss would have on those who knew them, including Joshua himself.
The deaths of Mr Ayodele and Mr Ghami serve as a stark reminder of the risks associated with road travel, even for high-profile individuals accompanied by professional drivers. For Joshua, the loss is both personal and professional, striking at the core of the support system that has underpinned his career at the highest level of the sport.
Anthony Joshua’s Condition, Background, and Wider Reaction
Anthony Joshua was injured in the crash but survived and was taken to hospital for treatment. While details of his injuries have not been fully disclosed, officials confirmed that he was discharged on Wednesday, suggesting that his condition was not life-threatening. Photographs taken at the scene showed the boxer being assisted from the wreckage, visibly shaken by the incident.
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Joshua was in Nigeria visiting family during the holiday period and was reportedly en route to Sagamu, a town in Ogun State where he has family roots. Born in Watford, England, Joshua has often spoken about his Nigerian heritage and maintains close ties to the country. A family member told the BBC that he was travelling to see relatives for New Year celebrations at the time of the crash.
The trip followed Joshua’s recent return to the ring, where he secured a high-profile victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on 19 December. The bout had attracted significant global attention and marked another notable chapter in Joshua’s career following previous title losses and comebacks. His presence in Nigeria was seen as part of a period of rest and reconnection with family after the fight.
Reaction to the crash has extended beyond Nigeria and the UK, with figures from across the sporting world expressing sympathy. Jake Paul posted on X that life was “much more important than boxing” and said he was praying for those who lost their lives, as well as for Joshua and others affected by the accident. Messages of condolence have also flooded social media from fans and fellow athletes.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns about road safety in Nigeria, particularly on major highways such as the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Despite its economic importance, the road has a long history of serious accidents attributed to speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate lighting, and illegally parked or broken-down trucks. Safety advocates have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws and improved infrastructure to prevent similar tragedies.
As legal proceedings against the driver continue, attention remains focused on the victims and their families, as well as on Joshua’s recovery from both physical injury and emotional trauma. While the court case will seek to establish accountability, the broader impact of the crash is already clear, leaving an indelible mark on the boxer’s life and on the wider boxing community.
For Anthony Joshua, the journey ahead involves not only healing from the crash but also coping with the loss of two men who played an integral role in his career and daily life. The events in Ogun State serve as a poignant reminder that behind the fame and success of elite athletes lie deeply human stories of friendship, loss, and vulnerability.