Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom following a tragic car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two of his close associates.
On December 29, a Lexus SUV conveying Joshua and his entourage rammed into a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
Kevin Latif Ayodele, the boxer’s personal trainer, and Sina Ghami, his strength and conditioning coach, died in the accident.
The 36-year-old boxer survived the crash and was taken to a Lagos hospital. Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the collision, was discharged from the medical facility on New Year’s Eve.
The funerals for Ghami and Ayodele are scheduled to be held at a London mosque on Sunday.
The police confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, the driver of the vehicle involved in the crash, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and operating a vehicle without a valid license.
The charges were filed by the Ogun state police command on Friday.
A magistrate’s court adjourned the case until January 20. The defendant was granted bail set at N5,000,000, but remains in custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
Although born in England, Joshua often visits his native home in Sagamu, Ogun state. He was also in Nigeria last year, where he hung out with celebrities and also presented President Bola Tinubu with a signed boxing glove.
The latest visit comes a few days after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in an exhibition heavyweight bout at the Kaseya Centre, Miami.
