British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death in a Monday car crash after he swapped from the front to the back seat of a Lexus SUV, a revelation made Friday by his driver’s lawyer.
The tragedy, which happened on a busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, killed two of Joshua’s companions, Ayodele Kelvin Olu (36), a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina (36), a British citizen, and injured others, including the boxing champion.
Kayode Adeniyi (46), Joshua’s driver, has been remanded in detention on four charges, including dangerous and irresponsible driving and driving without a valid license.
The driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail that Joshua initially sat in the front seat but moved to the rear at his request.
“My client has pleaded not guilty, and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had gotten into the front seat, but the driver asked him to swap seats.
“He did this because Anthony is a big fellow, and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly, so he asked him to move, and he sat behind the driver. From what I understand, Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.”
Kayode, dressed in a black Muslim kaftan, pleaded not guilty to the allegations while his family was present in court. He’s worked with Joshua for almost three years.
Outside the court, his 19-year-old son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, spoke with the Daily Mail and defended his father, claiming the crash was an accident.
“Dad is not a fast driver; he was following the speed limit, and then the brakes failed. He tried to swerve and avoid the truck parked by the side of the road, but he hit it.
“He’s been driving for Anthony for three years; he’s a good driver. When the journey started in Lagos, Anthony was sitting in the front, but my dad asked him to sit behind because he was blocking his view.
“He was taking Anthony to see his family in Sagamu and had picked them up from the airport. They were only a few minutes from arriving. It’s not his fault; if the truck wasn’t parked there illegally, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Kayode was arraigned on Friday on a four-count accusation of dangerous driving resulting in death, reckless driving, negligent driving, and driving without a valid driver’s license, according to the Federal Highway Act.
“The driver of the Lexus SUV in connection with the Anthony Joshua accident case is currently in custody. Investigations are ongoing,” said Police Public Relations Officer Oluseyi Babaseyi. Kayode was remanded pending bail, which was set at N5 million with two sureties, and the case was adjourned to January 20, 2026, for trial.
Meanwhile, the Lagos and Ogun state governments announced on Wednesday that Anthony Joshua had been discharged from the hospital following the horrific car accident.
