The investigation into the tragic vehicle accident involving former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, is reportedly facing significant obstacles due to a lack of inter-agency cooperation. The crucial probe into the immediate and remote causes of the crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway risks being stalled because the Nigeria Police Force is not collaborating with the lead safety agency.
NSIB Efforts Thwarted by Police Resistance
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) initiated a standard procedure to determine the factors behind the December 29, 2025 crash. According to a source within the bureau who spoke to The Guardian, the NSIB management swiftly wrote two separate letters after the incident. These letters were addressed to the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police Force, requesting further information and evidence.
The source revealed that while the FRSC provided full cooperation to the safety investigators, the police in Ogun State declined to assist. This refusal came despite a directive from the Inspector General of Police instructing cooperation. The police's stance was publicly echoed by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Babaseyi Oluseyi, who declined to comment, stating the case was already before a court.
The Crucial Missing Evidence: Vehicle Data Recorder
At the heart of the investigation standoff is a critical piece of evidence: the data recorder from the LX 570 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) involved in the crash. The NSIB formally requested the police to release this device, which is standard in modern vehicles. Downloading and analyzing its data would provide investigators with a detailed glimpse into the vehicle's speed, braking patterns, and other parameters moments before the collision.
"We interfaced with the FRSC and the Nigerian police to get preliminary information," the NSIB source explained. "We had wanted to download information from the data recorder, but we met resistance from the police, while the FRSC cooperated with us. So far, the police have refused to get the data recorder across to us."
Recap of the Fatal Incident
The accident occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Anthony Joshua was traveling to Sagamu in Ogun State with three other occupants when their vehicle was involved in a serious crash. The immediate aftermath was devastating: two of the occupants lost their lives at the scene. Joshua and the driver were more fortunate, escaping with what were described as minor injuries.
In its initial report, the FRSC had attributed the cause of the accident to wrongful overtaking and speeding. However, the NSIB's deeper investigation, which relies on technical evidence like the data recorder, is necessary to confirm these preliminary findings and uncover any other contributing factors.
The current impasse raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of post-accident investigations in Nigeria when key agencies fail to work in unison. Without access to all evidence, the final report on a high-profile incident that claimed two lives may remain incomplete, denying the public and the victims' families full closure and accountability.
