In brief
A 46‑year‑old driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, is charged with causing death by dangerous driving after his Lexus SUV lost control while attempting to overtake a moving truck. The incident killed Anthony Joshua’s trainer Latif Ayodele and strength coach Sina Ghami. Eyewitness accounts and police statements revealed the crash involved a stationary lorry and scattered debris, yet the driver’s licence was deemed invalid. A second defendant, the lorry driver, faced obstruction charges but denies any culpability. The case will resume on 10 September, amid discussions of the missing statement from Joshua himself.
The driver of a car carrying the former heavyweight champ attempted to overtake a truck in Lagos, Nigeria, before the vehicle lost control and collided with a parked lorry. The crash killed two of the boxer’s close associates – trainer Latif Ayodele and strength coach Sina Ghami – and a court heard the driver’s actions in detail.
Kayode, 46, faces charges for dangerous driving and for driving without a valid national licence. The court was informed that the group had been travelling to Joshua’s father’s home in Ogun State when the incident occurred. While the car’s occupants were asleep at the time, Kayode lost control during his overtaking attempt, striking a parked lorry and a moving truck.
Abubakar Adamu, 35, the driver of the stationary lorry, was charged with obstructing the free flow of traffic. He denied any infringement of his responsibilities. Investigators found only minor debris from the lorry’s load and retained a logbook, painkillers and an energy drink near Kayode’s seat.
The investigation is ongoing; police have yet to receive a statement from Joshua following the crash. Sheriff Christopher Ajayi Taiwo admitted that the car and lorry were removed by the time he arrived, but that remnants of the incident remained on the road.
The trial, which adjourned to 10 September, will also explore Joshua’s own role following the collision. The boxer has expressed grief on social media, noting his closeness to both victims and the emotional toll of the loss. The case brings into focus the complexities of traffic safety, legal accountability, and the personal ramifications of public tragedy.
