The driver employed by world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has appeared before a judge to face serious charges connected to a deadly road accident.
Driver Charged in High Court Following Fatal Crash
Kayode Adeniyi, a 47-year-old man, is currently standing trial at the High Court of Ogun State in Sagamu. The charges against him include manslaughter and reckless driving. Adeniyi was the driver of the vehicle transporting Anthony Joshua and his friends when the tragic incident occurred.
Following the crash, he was initially taken into custody and questioned at the Eleweran Police Station. After providing his statement regarding the circumstances of the accident, the police formally charged him and brought him before the court. A police source confirmed the ongoing legal proceedings, stating, "He's currently in court; expect more information on the case."
Controversy and Defence of the Driver
The arrest and charging of Adeniyi have not been without controversy. A commentator, Menzie Abia, has publicly criticized the move by authorities. Abia defended the driver, noting that Adeniyi had been Joshua's trusted Nigerian driver for many years.
"If he had been a reckless driver all the years, Anthony Joshua wouldn't have retained him for that long," Abia argued. He shifted blame towards the government, citing poor road infrastructure as the root cause. "Imagine a federal highway with no well-spelt-out highway shoulders, no traffic signs, no speed limit signs..." he stated.
Abia pointed directly to the parked truck involved in the collision as a critical failure. "A truck was parked on the highway and the government doesn't see that as a serious traffic problem," he said. He expressed sympathy for the driver, suggesting the government was using him to deflect from its own incompetence.
Details of the Accident and Aftermath
The fatal crash took place on Monday, December 29, 2025, on a busy highway in Makun. It happened just hours after Joshua and his associates had been playing tennis together. The vehicle carrying the group collided with a stationary truck.
The accident had tragic consequences:
- Anthony Joshua sustained minor injuries. He was treated at a Nigerian hospital, deemed fit, and released. He continues his recuperation and is expected to take a break from boxing to mourn and recover fully.
- Two of Joshua's friends, Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, could not survive the injuries they sustained and were confirmed dead at the scene. Their bodies are set to be repatriated to their families for burial.
The incident claimed the lives of Joshua's personal trainer and close friends while they were travelling to visit the boxer's family. The case continues at the Ogun State High Court as the legal process determines accountability for the devastating event.
