Nigeria police cost Anthony Joshua’s driver with harmful driving after deadly crash

The motive force of a automobile that was concerned in a deadly crash whereas carrying British boxer Anthony Joshua has been charged by Nigerian police with “reckless” and “harmful driving inflicting loss of life.” 

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was additionally charged with “driving and not using a legitimate nationwide driver’s licence” and “driving with out due care and a focus, inflicting bodily hurt and harm to property,” Oluseyi Babaseyi, a spokesman for the police in Ogun state, advised the Agence France-Presse information company.

His bail was set at 5 million naira, or round $3,500, with two sureties, however he’ll stay in detention till he meets the bail circumstances, the police spokesman mentioned. Kayode’s subsequent courtroom look is about for Jan. 20.

Street accidents are frequent in Nigeria. The West African nation recorded 5,421 deaths in 9,570 street accidents in 2024, in keeping with knowledge from its Federal Street Security Fee, CBS Information beforehand reported. 

Kayode was driving Joshua, a former two-time heavyweight champion, and two associates in a Lexus SUV on a busy freeway linking Lagos and Ibadan, in southwest Nigeria, on Dec. 29. The car struck a stationary truck. 

The Visitors Compliance and Enforcement Company within the Ogun state part of the freeway, the place the crash occurred, advised AFP earlier within the week that its preliminary investigations confirmed that the car was shifting at an extreme pace and had a burst tire earlier than the collision.

Joshua’s associates, recognized as Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, died on the scene, police mentioned. Ghami was Joshua’s long-time energy and conditioning coach, whereas Ayodele was his private coach, in keeping with British media. Joshua and Ayodele had posted movies of themselves taking part in desk tennis on social media simply hours earlier than the crash. 

Joshua and Kayode sustained minor accidents, officers mentioned. Pictures from the aftermath of the crash confirmed Joshua sitting within the rear of the automobile and not using a shirt on and surrounded by damaged glass however seemingly unhurt. 

Joshua’s promoter mentioned that he was stored below commentary at Lagos’ Lagoon Hospital whereas recovering from minor accidents and was launched on New 12 months’s Eve. 

Joshua was born in Britain to Nigerian dad and mom and infrequently visits the African nation. The crash occurred 9 days after he beat YouTube persona Jake Paul in a non-title bout in Miami.