Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has publicly addressed a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends.
The Tragic Incident in Lagos
The 36-year-old British boxer was a rear-seat passenger in a black Lexus SUV when it collided with a stationary lorry on a main road near Lagos last Monday. While Joshua survived the impact, the crash proved fatal for his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
Joshua received hospital treatment for several days before being discharged on New Year's Eve. A statement released at the time confirmed he was "deemed clinically fit to recuperate from home" but was "heavy hearted" over the loss.
Court Proceedings and a Fateful Seat Change
On Friday, the Ogun State Police Command announced that the driver of the SUV, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, had been charged in the Sagamu Magistrate Court. The case was adjourned until January 20.
Kayode faces multiple charges, including causing death by dangerous driving and operating a vehicle without a valid licence. His legal representative told the Daily Mail that the driver had pleaded not guilty, claiming the vehicle's brakes failed.
It has also emerged that a last-minute seat swap likely saved Joshua's life. The boxer had initially been in the front passenger seat, but the driver asked him to move to the back because his size obstructed the wing mirror. Ayodele then took the front seat.
Joshua's Tribute and an Uncertain Future
After returning to the UK, Joshua broke his silence on social media. He posted a photograph with his mother and relatives of the deceased, captioned "My Brothers Keeper". The funerals for Ayodele and Ghami are being held in London today, though it is unclear if Joshua will attend amid concerns his presence could create a spectacle.
The tragedy casts a shadow over Joshua's boxing career, which had just reignited with a £70 million knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami. He was scheduled to fight again next month ahead of a potential summer clash with Tyson Fury.
Promoter Frank Warren has now dismissed any fight happening in early 2026, stating that boxing will be "the last thing on his mind." Friends and well-wishers outside Evolve Gym in London, which was owned by the late Sina Ghami, suggested the mental impact could make it difficult for Joshua to continue in the sport.
Agash Satkunarajah, who knew Ghami, said: "For AJ I just don't know where this takes him. I think mentally he's going to be broken... it will be very difficult for him to continue when two of the most important people in your boxing career have passed away."
