SAGAMU, Nigeria — A Nigerian court has heard that the driver carrying British Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua was trying to overtake another vehicle when he lost control and crashed into a stationary truck, killing two members of the former heavyweight champion’s team.
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, is facing charges including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid national driver’s license. He has denied the charges, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.
The crash occurred in December 2025 as Joshua and members of his team traveled through Ogun State to visit the boxer’s father. The court was told that the passengers were asleep when Kayode attempted to overtake a moving truck while driving a Lexus SUV. Prosecutors said he lost control and struck a lorry that was stationary on the road.
Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, were killed in the collision. Joshua survived the crash, which sent shock waves through the international boxing community and prompted tributes to the two longtime members of his team.
A second defendant, Abubakar Adamu, 35, was driving the stationary lorry involved in the collision. He has pleaded not guilty to a charge of obstructing the free flow of traffic, according to evidence presented during the proceedings.
Inspector Christopher Ajayi Taiwo of the Ogun State Motor Traffic Division told the court that the damaged vehicles had already been removed by the time he arrived at the scene. Officers found debris from the crash and soya beans scattered across the roadway from the lorry’s cargo.
Taiwo said investigators recovered a vehicle logbook, painkillers and an energy drink near the driver’s side of the Lexus. The court also heard that police had yet to obtain a formal statement from Joshua. When questioned about the omission, Taiwo said efforts were continuing and that he had not contacted the boxer because he did not have his telephone number.
The fatal collision again highlighted safety concerns on Nigeria’s heavily traveled highways, where dangerous overtaking, speeding, disabled vehicles and trucks stopped along major roads can create serious risks. The circumstances surrounding the Joshua crash are now being examined through the criminal proceedings, with the court expected to determine whether either driver bears legal responsibility.
Joshua has strong connections to Ogun State despite being born in Watford, England. His family comes from Sagamu, near the area where the crash occurred. He rose from Olympic gold medalist to become one of boxing’s most recognizable heavyweight stars and has frequently spoken publicly about his Nigerian heritage.
After the deaths of Ayodele and Ghami, Joshua paid an emotional tribute to his friends, reflecting on how much they had meant to his life and career. “100 percent it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents,” he wrote.
The trial was adjourned until Sept. 10, when further testimony is expected. Kayode and Adamu remain presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges against them in court.
