The Ogun State Police Command has formally charged the driver involved in the tragic crash that claimed the lives of two close associates of former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua. The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared before a Sagamu Magistrate Court on Friday, but the case has been adjourned until January 20, 2026, to allow for further legal processes.
DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ogun State, confirmed the arraignment in a statement issued from Abeokuta on Friday. The driver was charged shortly after being taken into custody following the accident, which occurred on December 29, 2025, near the Danco area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The devastating collision resulted in the deaths of Kevin Latif Ayodele, 36, a British-Nigerian, and Sina Ghami, 36, a British national. Both men were colleagues and part of Anthony Joshua’s training team. They lost their lives instantly in the crash, while Joshua and the driver sustained only minor injuries.
Adeniyi, who has been a long-time member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics support team, was treated for minor injuries in a Lagos hospital and discharged late on New Year’s Eve. Subsequently, he was taken to the Ogun State Police headquarters in Abeokuta for interrogation.
According to police insiders, Adeniyi was driving the Lexus SUV at speeds exceeding the 65 mph limit when a tyre burst while he was overtaking another vehicle. The out-of-control vehicle collided with a truck that was illegally parked on the expressway’s hard shoulder, carrying a load of soya beans. The impact was so severe that the front-left side of the Lexus was torn apart.
While Joshua, who was seated behind the driver, escaped with minor injuries, first responders on the scene described his survival as nothing short of a miracle. Both Ghami and Ayodele, unfortunately, died on impact.
A source close to the investigation revealed to the Daily Mail that the driver was cooperative during questioning and stable after his treatment. Although initial expectations were that he would be charged with reckless driving within 48 hours of the accident, the timing was delayed due to the bank holiday period.
On Friday, Adeniyi was indeed arraigned at the Sagamu Magistrate Court; however, specific details about the charges filed against him were not immediately made public.
Meanwhile, the Lagos and Ogun State governments jointly announced that Anthony Joshua had been discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi. Doctors had confirmed that Joshua was fit enough to continue his recovery at home. A joint statement issued by Ogun State’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, and Lagos State’s Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, detailed that Joshua and his mother had visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay their respects to the two deceased friends. Preparations for their repatriation were underway.
The bodies of Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami were flown out of Lagos on a Turkish Airlines cargo flight that touched down in Istanbul early on New Year’s Day before proceeding to London for final burial arrangements.
Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State both expressed heartfelt appreciation for the overwhelming public support, prayers, and condolences following the accident. They also extended gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his supportive role during this difficult period.
Both state governments commended the medical team at Lagoon Hospital for their professionalism and dedicated care of Joshua and other injured victims. They reiterated their condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the incident as deeply tragic. Their prayers were for peace for the departed souls and strength for the grieving families.
The crash happened on the morning of Monday, December 29, around 11 a.m., as Joshua and his two friends traveled from Lagos to an undisclosed destination. They had arrived in Nigeria earlier that day on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London.
The incident came just ten days after Joshua’s much-publicized fight with Jake Paul, which ended in a sixth-round knockout win for Joshua. The bout had generated considerable attention, with reports indicating Paul suffered a broken jaw during the match.
Following news of the fatal accident, many notable Nigerian and international sports figures, including Nigerian football stars Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi, and Bright Osayi-Samuel, extended condolences and wished Joshua a speedy recovery.
In a related development, the driver of the truck involved in the collision remains at large, with police currently conducting a manhunt. His identity has not been revealed, and investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances that led to the tragedy.
Authorities have promised to release further details as the investigation advances. The court session scheduled for January 20, 2026, is expected to provide updates on the charges against Adeniyi and shed more light on the findings from the police inquiry.
