The chauffeur behind the wheel during Anthony Joshua’s devastating road accident in Nigeria has been identified as 47-year-old Kayode Adeniyi, a longstanding member of the boxer’s local logistics team.
Nigerian police sources indicate that Adeniyi is expected to face charges of reckless driving within the next 48 hours following the fatal collision on Monday.
The crash claimed the lives of two of Joshua’s closest associates: Sina Ghami, his personal trainer, and Kevin Latif Ayodele, known as Latz, who served as his sport and exercise rehabilitation coach.
Both men were 36 years old and had worked alongside the heavyweight champion for many years.
Anthony Joshua was involved in a fatal crash after his car hit a stationery truck
Following his discharge from a Lagos hospital late on New Year’s Eve, Adeniyi was transported approximately two hours north to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state where the accident occurred.
At the state police headquarters, he underwent several hours of questioning and submitted a formal statement detailing his version of events in the minutes preceding the collision.
“The driver was released after treatment for minor injuries and was then taken to the state police headquarters for questioning,” a police source revealed.
“He is in a stable condition and was able to provide us with his version of events that led up to the crash and we expect a charging decision within the next 48 hours but the bank holiday may delay proceedings.”
A court appearance could potentially take place on Friday, though this remains contingent upon the speed of administrative processes.
The chauffeur that crashed the car carrying Anthony Joshua on Monday has been identified as 47-year-old Kayode Adeniyi
FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORPS NIGERIA
Preliminary investigations by the Federal Road Safety Corps determined that the Lexus SUV was travelling at excessive speed when a front tyre on the passenger side burst during an overtaking manoeuvre.
The blowout caused Adeniyi to lose control of the vehicle, which subsequently careered into a stationary lorry laden with soya beans that had been illegally parked on the hard shoulder of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The impact tore away the nearside section of the car, killing Ghami and Ayodele instantly.
Joshua, seated directly behind the driver, survived what local first responders described as a “miracle”.
Meanwhile, the driver of the illegally parked truck absconded immediately after the collision and remains the subject of an active police manhunt.
Sina Ghami, his personal trainer, and Kevin Latif Ayodele, known as Latz, both died in the crash
Joshua himself was discharged from hospital on Wednesday afternoon, having been deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at home despite being emotionally devastated by the loss of his companions.
Accompanied by his mother, the heavyweight boxer visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay his final respects as preparations were made for the repatriation of his friends’ remains to Britain.
The coffins carrying Ghami and Ayodele departed Lagos aboard a Turkish Airlines cargo flight, arriving in Istanbul early on New Year’s Day before continuing their journey to London.
Anthony Joshua had only recently returned to the ring after beating Jake Paul earlier this month | GETTYEddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter and Matchroom Boxing chairman, paid tribute on social media: “Rest in peace Latz and Sina.
“Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed.”