The driver of the vehicle carrying British-Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua during a fatal crash in Nigeria has now been formally charged by police.
Charges Laid Following Fatal Collision
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, aged 46, faces four criminal counts in connection with the incident that occurred on Monday near Lagos. The charges, confirmed by the Ogun State Police Command on Friday, 2 January 2026, include dangerous driving causing death and driving without a valid national licence.
The crash involved a black Lexus SUV, in which Joshua was a passenger, striking a stationary truck on a major road. The collision resulted in the tragic deaths of two of Joshua's close companions: Latif Ayodele, a trainer described as being like a "twin brother" to the boxer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach.
Boxer Recuperating as Legal Process Begins
Anthony Joshua, the 36-year-old two-time world heavyweight champion, sustained injuries in the accident but has since been discharged from hospital. Local authorities confirmed on Wednesday that he is now recuperating at his home in Nigeria.
Gbenga Omotoso, the Lagos state commissioner for information, stated on social media that Joshua and his mother had visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to Ayodele and Ghami. The poignant tribute came just hours after the friends had been seen together in social media clips playing table tennis.
Court Appearance and Case Adjournment
The driver, Kayode, made his initial appearance at the Sagamu Magistrate Court following the police charges. The specific counts he faces are:
- Dangerous driving causing death
- Reckless and negligent driving
- Driving without due care and attention
- Driving without a valid national driver's licence
The case has been adjourned and is scheduled to proceed to trial on 20 January. The proceedings will scrutinise the allegations that Kayode was driving recklessly at the time of the devastating crash.
This incident has sent shockwaves through the sporting world and the Nigerian community, highlighting the profound personal loss for Anthony Joshua alongside the serious legal ramifications for the driver involved.
