A shocking twist of fate meant Anthony Joshua cheated death moments before the fatal car crash that killed two of his friends, the UK’s Daily Mail revealed on Friday.
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The former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, 36, swapped seats from the front to the back of his SUV before the smash which killed Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele just hours after they arrived in Nigeria for a holiday.
His driver, Kayode Adeniyi, 47, appeared in court on Friday, where he denied all charges against him which included dangerous driving.
Adeniyi was wearing a black Muslim kaftan and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to him by the clerk as members of his family attended. He claimed he was innocent and that the brakes failed.
After the charges were read, Chief Magistrate Somefun granted the defendant bail for ₦5 million, with two sureties, and ordered that he be remanded in custody pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The trial has been formally adjourned to January 20, 2026.
Adeniyi, who has worked for Joshua for more than three years, was granted bail and rushed away by police to Sagamu Correctional Centre for paperwork to be completed.
The driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.”
The lawyer explained that the driver made this request because Joshua is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly, so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver.
The report said Joshua’s friend then changed seats with the boxer. That side of the vehicle was the impact point of the accident.
Outside court, the driver’s wife was too hysterical to speak but his son told the Daily Mail his father was innocent and it was “just an unlucky accident.”
Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, 19, said: “The family is very upset by what’s happened and we are sorry for the deaths of the two people.
“Dad is not a fast driver, he was following the speed limit and then the brakes failed. He said he was pushing the pedal, but nothing was happening.
“He tried to swerve and avoid the truck parked by the side of the road but hit it. He’s been driving for Anthony for three years, he’s a good driver.
“I know that when the journey started in Lagos, Anthony was sitting in the front by the driver but my dad asked him to sit behind because he was blocking his view.
“He was taking Anthony to see his family in Sagamu and had picked them up from the airport and they were only a few minutes from arriving.
“It’s not his fault. If the truck hadn’t parked there illegally, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Kayode Adeniyi was arraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate Jumoke Somefun of Court 1 on a four-count charge bordering on dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid National Driver’s Licence.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F:135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State).
He was also charged under Section 6(1) of the same Act for reckless and negligent driving.
The police further alleged that the defendant caused bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act, and drove without a valid National Driver’s Licence, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.
After listening to the charges, Chief Magistrate Somefun granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
However, Adeniyi was unable to meet the bail conditions and was consequently remanded at the Sagamu Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail terms.
The case was adjourned to January 20, 2026, for trial.
Meanwhile, Adedamola Joshua, an uncle of the former world boxing champion, shared his thoughts on the accident in an interview.
Speaking on how the family got to know about the accident, he said: “Around 1 pm, one of my church members, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, called to inform me of the accident and it was like I had never in my life heard that people were involved in an accident. How can Anthony Joshua be involved in an accident? It sounded so impossible, but it actually happened; it is unfortunate.”
On how the family is coping, the uncle said: “It has really left us in shock because this is not the first, the second, or the third time he has been coming home, so what happened? Why now? He just arrived in the country six hours ago on that day, and was eager to see his family in Sagamu, only for things to go the way they went.
“He could have decided to say that he wanted to spend some time with the Governor of Lagos State or other influential Nigerians, but he said that he wanted to be with his family in Sagamu. It is really painful that such an incident happened.”
Adedamola Joshua explained that the boxer has always come home around Yuletide to enjoy the festive period with the family, adding that it was nothing unusual.
The uncle condemned what he described as the lackadaisical attitude of the government towards emergency services.
“To see Joshua crossing the median after the accident when he was supposed to be on a stretcher was distressing. When you are in such trauma, the stress must be minimised; he was supposed to have been put in an ambulance and from there be treated. If it had been abroad, a helicopter would have arrived at the scene within five minutes for the evacuation of the victims of the accident,” he said.
“The government should deploy more ambulances on that stretch of the road, because accidents are always happening on that road. It is not enough to have the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps checking vehicle documents; let there be ambulances too, stationed along this road.”
He also criticised Nigerians who made videos at the accident scene instead of helping victims.
“Some Nigerians act badly at accident scenes. When they are supposed to help, you will see them bringing out their phones to make videos and even steal from the victims. That is not right. We even heard that Anthony Joshua’s phone was stolen during the accident; such attitudes must be discouraged,” he added.
However, the uncle commended the government’s response after the accident.
“The government has sincerely done its best. Governors Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Ogun and Lagos states, respectively, have ensured that the boxer received the very best medical service.
“President Bola Tinubu is equally in touch with our son; he has spoken to him and the parents and assured them of the government’s support at all times. We really show our gratitude to the government for this massive support,” he said.
He suggested that the government provide detailed escorts and professional drivers for icons like Anthony Joshua whenever they are in the country.
Speaking on the impact of the tragedy, the uncle said: “It has really cast a shadow on our celebration. How can you celebrate when your son is in the hospital and two of his friends who were in the country to spend the vacation with him are being taken back in body bags? It is an incident that has shaken the Joshua family.
“Since our father, Chief Adebambo Joshua (Anthony Joshua’s great-grandfather), died in 1964, we have never been so unhappy.”
On whether the accident could negatively impact Joshua’s boxing career, he said: “It is not impossible; some are even speculating that he is considering retirement from the sport. All of these are in the realm of speculation, but our prayer is that he would continue to grow stronger and come out of this trying time much stronger than ever before.”
He acknowledged that the incident might discourage the boxer from coming home again, noting that for two personal friends and trainers to have died right on the spot, six hours after they arrived in the country, is something terrible.
“We sincerely pray to the Almighty God to give him the courage to pull through this trying time,” he said.
The uncle also used the opportunity to register condolences on behalf of the Joshua family at home and in the diaspora to the families and associates of the two friends who lost their lives.
“We pray that the souls of the departed will rest in peace and that the Almighty God will also grant each of us touched by this tragic incident the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he concluded.
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