Tag: Anthony Joshua

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.

Two close friends and team members of world-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua have been identified as the victims of the fatal road crash that occurred on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Monday.

Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, confirmed in a statement that the deceased were Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, both of whom worked closely with the boxer for several years.

“With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away,” Matchroom Boxing said.

The company added that Joshua sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, noting that he was in a stable condition and would remain under observation.

The BBC also confirmed that the two men killed in the crash were Joshua’s teammates, adding that both were part of his inner circle.

Just hours before the accident, Joshua had posted an Instagram story showing him playing table tennis with Latif Ayodele, popularly known as Latz.

Who were they?

• Sina Ghami

Sina Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for more than a decade.

He also co-founded Evolve Gym in London.

BBC reports that Ghami is a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialises in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise.

Ghami had worked with athletes across several sports, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association and the Michigan State University football team.

The BBC reports that Ghami, who specialised in sports rehabilitation and injury prevention, had shared social media posts from Lagos shortly before the crash and frequently posted photos with Joshua.

• Latif “Latz” Ayodele
  

Latif Ayodele, widely known as Latz, was Joshua’s personal trainer.

His social media pages reflected a deep passion for fitness and a strong commitment to Islam.

Ayodele regularly posted photos with Joshua on his Instagram page and was seen with the boxer shortly before the accident.

How the crash happened

As 626Blaze earlier reported, Joshua was involved in the road accident around 11 am on Monday at Makun, near the Danco Filling Station, before the Sagamu Interchange inward Ibadan on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

“It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash.

“Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived,” he said.

He added that the passenger beside the driver and the occupant beside Joshua died on the spot, while Joshua sustained minor injuries.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps later arrived at the scene and commenced rescue and investigation efforts.

Anthony Joshua’s final social media post before the fatal road accident he was reportedly involved in has surfaced online.

In the video, Anthony Joshua was seen playing tennis with a friend at his family residence in Ogun State, appearing relaxed and in good spirits.

The clip was shared just five hours before the accident, which reportedly claimed the lives of two people.

The video has since sparked emotional reactions from fans and social media users.As of now, authorities are yet to release an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Watch the video below:

View this post on Instagram