Category: Sport News

Renowned heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom following a fatal auto crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his close associates.

Recall that the car conveying him last Monday rammed into a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The former world heavyweight champion’s personal trainer, Kevin Latif Ayodele, and his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, died in the accident.

The Nigeria-born British boxer survived the crash after sustaining minor injuries and was taken to a hospital in Lagos.

He was, however, discharged from a Nigerian hospital on New Year’s Eve.

Meanwhile, the funerals for Ghami and Ayodele are scheduled to be held at a London mosque on Sunday.

The police confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and operating a vehicle without a valid licence.

The Ogun State Police Command on Thursday confirmed that the driver of Nigerian-British boxer Anthony Joshua is currently in its custody.

Recall that the 36-year-old boxer was involved in a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of his close friends Sina Ghami,  Latif Ayodele and left him injured on Monday.

The crash which involved a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, carrying Joshua and his two friends reportedly collided with a stationary truck around past 11am on Monday, in front of Sinoma, before Danco, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC) Ogun Sector Command, the driver who was over-speeding, wrongfully overtook from the right hand side thereby ramming into the stationary vehicle.

An AFP report, from the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun State, also revealed that the front tyre on the passenger side of the vehicle experienced a burst due to the excessive speed and then lost control.

“From the preliminary investigation that was conducted, definitely there was over speeding on the part of the SUV Anthony Joshua was travelling in. In the course of that, the front tyre on the passenger side burst.

“That led to loss of control before the vehicle now swerved and rammed into the stationary truck that was parked. There was excessive speed” Babatunde Akinbiyi the TRACE spokesperson said.

Anthony Joshua was rushed to Duchess International Hospital, Lagos and the bodies of the deceased deposited at Livewell Hospital Morgue, Sagamu.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, had assured members of the public that a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident would commence.

Babaseyi on Thursday in a statement made available to Daily Post said the driver is currently in custody and investigation is ongoing.

“The driver of the Lexus SUV is currently in custody in connection with the Anthony Joshua accident case.

“Investigations are ongoing” the police spokesperson added.

Anthony Joshua has been discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a road accident along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

In a statement on Wednesday, Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos commissioner for information, says the former heavyweight boxing champion has been “deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home”.

On Monday, a Lexus SUV conveying Joshua and his team rammed into a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Two of Joshua’s close associates — Kevin Latif Ayodele, his personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach — died in the accident.

The boxer survived the crash with minor injuries and was taken to a medical hospital in Lagos.

Omotoso revealed that Joshua had been receiving treatment at the Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, following the accident, and was discharged on Wednesday afternoon.

The commissioner added that the boxer and his mother then visited the funeral home in Lagos, where the remains of the late associates are stationed, to pay their final respects.

“Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deeply appreciate the public concern and show of love and affection over this very sad and unfortunate incident,” Omotoso writes.

On Tuesday, the Ogun police command said a burst tyre caused the accident.

However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had said its preliminary findings show that excessive speed and wrongful overtaking were the cause of the motor accident.

Although born in England, Joshua often visits his native home in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. He was also in Nigeria last year, where he hung out with celebrities and also presented President Bola Tinubu with a signed boxing glove.

The latest visit comes a few days after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in an exhibition heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Centre, Miami.