The chauffeur for British boxing champion Anthony Joshua has been formally charged following a devastating road accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of the athlete's close friends.
Charges Laid in Court Following Investigation
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, aged 46, was behind the wheel of a black Lexus Jeep carrying Joshua, Latif Ayodele, and Sina Ghami on Monday morning. The vehicle collided with a stationary lorry on the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
In an official update provided on Friday, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the driver has been charged at the Sagamu Magistrate Court. Kayode was granted bail set at five million naira (approximately $3,480) and required two sureties. He was remanded in custody until those bail conditions are met.
A police source informed the BBC that prosecutors have brought four separate charges against Mr Kayode. These are: causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver's licence. The case has been adjourned until January 20 for further proceedings.
Preliminary Findings Point to Speed and Illegal Parking
According to initial investigations by traffic authorities, the tragic incident was caused by a combination of excessive speed and an illegally parked vehicle.
Babatunde Akinbiyi, a spokesperson for Ogun State's Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, stated that a preliminary investigation confirmed the SUV was over-speeding. "The front tyre on the passenger side burst. That led to loss of control before the vehicle swerved and rammed into the stationary truck," Akinbiyi explained, emphasising that "there was excessive speed."
Police also disclosed that the lorry involved was parked illegally on the side of the highway. An officer confirmed, "He was parked on the side of the highway which is illegal, he had not broken down and he was not with the vehicle when the accident happened."
Boxer Pays Respects as Friends Are Repatriated
Anthony Joshua, who sustained only minor injuries in the collision, has since been discharged from hospital. The former world heavyweight champion was seen accompanying his mother to a funeral home on Wednesday afternoon to pay their respects to the deceased, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, before their bodies were repatriated to the United Kingdom.
The community and sporting world continue to mourn the loss of the two men, described as close friends of the boxing star, as the legal process begins in Nigeria.
