Anthony Joshua’s Driver Faces Court Over Fatal Crash

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:12:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Trial reveals driver attempted to overtake a truck before colliding with a parked lorry, killing two of Joshua’s team members, court finds.

In Nigeria, a court heard that Jonathan Kayode, driving a Lexus SUV, was trying to overtake a moving truck when he lost control and struck a parked lorry, killing two of former boxer Anthony Joshua’s close associates. Kayode, 46, denies the charges, which include causing death by dangerous driving and operating without a valid licence. The trial also notes that Joshua’s own statement was never taken, and the case is adjourned until 10 September. The incident occurred last December when Joshua’s friends were travelling to visit his father in Ogun State. The court description highlights the wreck’s sequence and the minimal recoverable items from the car. Joshua, who has roots in Sagamu near the crash site, posted a heartfelt tribute to the lost friends on social media. The discussion underscores lingering questions about traffic safety on Nigerian highways and whether the driver’s attempt to overtake a moving truck was the decisive factor behind the tragedy.

In a court hearing held in Ogun State, defendants were faced with the tragic fallout of a road accident that killed two members of former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s inner circle. The driver of the black Lexus SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, is accused of attempting to overtake a moving truck when he lost control and collided with a parked lorry. The collision killed Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength coach, Sina Ghami.

Kayode denies the charges, which include “causing death by dangerous driving” and “driving without a valid national driver’s licence.” The court notes that the victims were asleep as Kayode was overtaking the truck, a detail that was highlighted amid the proceedings. The crash took place on a Lagos‑nearby stretch of road last December when the group was en route to visit Joshua’s father in Ogun State.

Second defendant, Abubakar Adamu, 35, who was driving the stationary lorry involved, was charged with obstructing the free flow of traffic. Inspectors at the scene recovered only modest items – a logbook, some painkillers and an energy drink – near the driver’s side of the Lexus. Officers also found debris and scattered soya beans from the lorry’s load, indicating the collision’s dynamics.

Despite the seriousness, no statement was taken from Anthony Joshua himself, a fact that Kayode’s lawyer pointed out. Inspectors explained that Oyam had not contacted Joshua because he did not have his phone number. The trial has been postponed to 10 September.

Joshua, born in Watford, UK, carries ancestral ties to the nearby town of Sagamu. After the crash, he posted a moving tribute on social media, writing about how hard it was to accept the loss of his close friends and how their families would feel the hardship. The tribute highlighted not only the personal impact but the wider tragedy of how a seemingly routine road maneuver led to a fatal outcome.

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