Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom following a fatal road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends and members of his team.
Joshua sustained minor injuries in the crash, which killed Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele on Monday, December 29. The 36-year-old was treated and discharged from hospital on New Year’s Eve.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported on Saturday that Joshua has since flown back to the UK in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has flown back to the UK after a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria,” the BBC stated.
Funeral prayers for Ghami and Ayodele are scheduled to hold on Sunday at the London Central Mosque, according to Sky Sports.
The driver of the vehicle involved in the crash, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, has been charged by the Ogun State Police Command with causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid licence.
Kayode was granted bail in the sum of N5 million and remanded pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. The matter has been adjourned until January 20.
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His 19-year-old son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, has publicly defended his father, insisting the accident was caused by brake failure and a truck allegedly parked illegally on the highway.
“Dad is not a fast driver; he was within the speed limit when the brakes failed,” Ifeoluwa told the Daily Mail.
“He said he was pressing the pedal, but nothing happened. He has driven for Anthony for three years and is a good driver. It’s not his fault. If the truck was not parked there illegally, this would not have happened.”
Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, disclosed that Joshua narrowly escaped death due to a last-minute change of seats in the vehicle.
“I understand the journey started in Lagos and that Anthony initially sat in front,” Abiodun told the Daily Mail.
“But the driver asked him to change seats because he could not see the wing mirror properly due to Anthony’s size. Anthony then sat behind the driver, while Latif moved to the front.”
Joshua was travelling in a Lexus SUV that rammed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Makun. He was reportedly en route to Sagamu to visit relatives for New Year celebrations.
The fatal crash occurred just 10 days after Joshua’s knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State have expressed gratitude to members of the public for their prayers and support, while also acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s intervention and concern.
Both state governments commiserated with the bereaved families, describing the incident as painful and deeply unfortunate, and prayed for the eternal repose of the departed.
Meanwhile, police investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident are ongoing.
