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A tragic twist of fate has emerged in the fatal road crash involving world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua, which claimed the lives of two of his friends shortly after they arrived in Nigeria for a holiday.
Court proceedings in Sagamu, Ogun State, have revealed that Joshua narrowly escaped death after swapping seats from the front to the back of his SUV moments before the crash. The accident claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele and left the boxer hospitalised.
The revelation came during the arraignment of Joshua’s driver, Kayode Adeniyi, 47, at the Sagamu High Court, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including dangerous driving causing death. Adeniyi, who appeared in court wearing a black Muslim kaftan, told the court the accident was caused by brake failure.
Prosecutors also disclosed that Adeniyi did not possess a valid driver’s licence at the time of the crash, which occurred on what is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most dangerous highways.
According to information presented in court, Joshua had initially been seated in the front passenger seat after the journey began in Lagos. However, the driver reportedly asked him to move to the back seat because his size obstructed the view of the wing mirror. Latif Ayodele was said to have taken the front seat shortly before the accident.
Adeniyi, who has worked as Joshua’s driver for more than three years, was granted bail in the sum of ₦5 million, with the option of providing valuables instead of cash. He was later escorted by police to the Sagamu Correctional Centre to complete bail documentation.
Speaking to journalists after the hearing, Adeniyi’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, maintained that the incident was a tragic accident.
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“My client has pleaded not guilty. He insists the brakes failed while he was driving. He was not speeding, and the accident was beyond his control,” Abiodun said.
Adeniyi is facing four charges, including dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. The case was adjourned until January 20 for trial.
Outside the courtroom, emotions ran high as members of the driver’s family reacted to the proceedings. Adeniyi’s wife was reportedly too distraught to speak, while his son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, described the incident as “an unlucky accident.”
“My dad is a careful driver. He was obeying the speed limit when the brakes failed,” the 19-year-old said. “He tried to swerve to avoid a truck parked on the roadside but hit it. If that truck was not parked there illegally, this wouldn’t have happened.”
He added that the family expressed condolences over the deaths of Ghami and Ayodele, noting that the group had been only minutes away from arriving in Sagamu to visit Joshua’s family when the crash occurred.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to Joshua’s prominence and the tragic loss of life, as investigations and legal proceedings continue.