Court adjourns case against Joshua’s driver to Jan 20

The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned the driver of the Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle involved in the fatal accident that killed two of Anthony Joshua’s close friends, but the case has been adjourned till January 20, 2026, to allow for further proceedings

The driver, identified as Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was on Friday charged before a Sagamu Magistrate Court, according to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi.

In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Friday, Babaseyi disclosed that the case had been adjourned till January 20, 2026, to allow for further proceedings.

The arraignment came barely two days after the Ogun State Police Command confirmed the arrest of Adeniyi following the crash, which occurred on December 29, 2025, near Danco along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The accident claimed the lives of Kevin Latif Ayodele, 36, a British-Nigerian citizen, and Sina Ghami, 36, a British citizen, both colleagues and training staff of the former world heavyweight boxing champion.

Adeniyi, a long-standing member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team, was discharged from a hospital in Lagos late on New Year’s Eve after receiving treatment for minor injuries. He was then driven to Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital where the crash occurred, for questioning at the state police headquarters.

Police sources earlier revealed that Adeniyi was allegedly driving well above the 65mph speed limit on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when he lost control after a tyre burst during an overtaking manoeuvre.

The Lexus SUV, with registration number KRD 850 HN, reportedly smashed into an illegally parked truck on the hard shoulder carrying soya beans. The force of the impact tore off the nearside section of the vehicle.

Ghami and Ayodele were killed instantly, while Joshua and Adeniyi sustained only minor injuries. Joshua, who was seated behind the driver, escaped death narrowly, with local first responders describing his survival as a “miracle”.

“The driver was released after treatment for minor injuries and was then taken to the state police headquarters for questioning. He is in a stable condition and was able to provide us with his version of events that led up to the crash,” a police source told the Daily Mail earlier this week.

The source added that Adeniyi was expected to be charged with reckless driving within 48 hours, although the bank holiday could delay proceedings.

True to the police’s word, Adeniyi appeared before the Sagamu Magistrate Court on Friday, though details of the specific charges filed against him were not immediately disclosed.

The Lagos and Ogun state governments had on Wednesday announced the discharge of Anthony Joshua from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, after doctors confirmed he was clinically fit to continue his recuperation from home.

According to a joint statement signed by Mr Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the two late friends, whose bodies were being prepared for repatriation.

The bodies were flown out of Lagos on a Turkish Airlines cargo flight that landed in Istanbul early on New Year’s Day before continuing to London for final burial arrangements.

The joint statement disclosed that Joshua was discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, late on Wednesday after doctors confirmed that he was clinically fit to continue his recuperation from home.

Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State expressed deep appreciation to members of the public for the overwhelming concern, prayers and show of love following the sad incident.

They also conveyed their gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what they described as his fatherly support throughout the period.

The governments further commended the doctors and medical personnel at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for the quality of care, professionalism and dedication shown in attending to Joshua and other injured victims of the accident.

The two state governments once again commiserated with the families of the deceased, describing the incident as painful and deeply unfortunate. They prayed that Almighty God would grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and give their families and loved ones the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

The accident occurred on Monday, December 29, at about 11am, when Joshua and his two friends were travelling from Lagos to an undisclosed destination.

Joshua and the two men had arrived in Nigeria earlier that day on a Virgin Atlantic flight from London.

The crash came just 10 days after Joshua’s high-profile bout with Jake Paul, which ended in a sixth-round knockout victory for the former world champion. The fight generated significant attention and saw Paul reportedly sustain a broken jaw.

Following news of the accident, several prominent Nigerian and international sports personalities sent messages of support to Joshua.

Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Bright Osayi-Samuel were among those who expressed their condolences and wished the boxer a speedy recovery.

According to the Daily Mail, the driver of the illegally parked truck has disappeared, with police launching a manhunt. The identity of the truck driver has not been disclosed.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, with police expected to provide more details as the case progresses.

The next court sitting on January 20 is expected to shed more light on the charges against Adeniyi and the findings of the police investigation into the fatal crash.

Culled from punch