Anthony Joshua has flown back to the UK after a fatal car crash in Nigeria that killed two of close friends earlier this week.
The 36-year-old was involved in the tragic accident on Monday morning when his vehicle hit a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Joshua spent a few days in hospital as a result of his injuries and was discharged on New Year’s Eve.
However, two of his team members and inner circle in Sina Ghama and Latif Ayodele died.
Ghami acted as a strength and conditioning coach for the former two-time heavyweight world champion, while Ayodele was a trainer.
Joshua’s driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, has been charged with dangerous and reckless driving in southwestern Ogun state.
Anthony Joshua’s driver charged on four counts
Kayode has been in custody since Thursday following his release from hospital, and was subsequently granted bail of 5,000,000 Naira (£2,578) and was remanded pending his bail conditions being met.
In total, the defendant was charged on four counts, including dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care as well as driving without a valid national driver’s license.
His court case has been adjourned to January 20 for trial.
In a statement on X, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed Kayode’s current predicament.
‘The Ogun State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the Anthony Joshua accident case, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode (male), aged 46, was charged to the Sagamu Magistrate Court today, 2nd January 2026 and the case has been adjourned to 20th January, 2026,’ a statement on the force’s official X account read.
Ghami acted as a strength and conditioning coach for the former two-time heavyweight world champion, while Ayodele was a trainer.
Just hours before the crash, Joshua and Ayodele both posted footage on their Instagram accounts of them playing table tennis.
Joshua returned from a 15-month lay-off from boxing by knocking out YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in the sixth round of their lucrative showdown in Miami earlier this month.
The Olympic gold medal winner then followed up his 29th win in 33 professional fights by calling out British rival Tyson Fury, who is currently retired, for a long-awaited bout in 2026. However, that potential bout is now in the balance, depending on the physical and psychosociological effects on this incident for Joshua.
Joshua was born in Watford to Nigerian parents and spent some of his early school years in the African nation before returning to the UK aged 12.
