Former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua made an emotional, last-minute visit to a funeral home in Lagos to see his two friends who died in a car crash that he survived.
A Final Goodbye Before the Flight
On Wednesday, 3 January 2026, Anthony Joshua, accompanied by his mother and a security detail of about 60 personnel, arrived at the TOS Funeral Home in the Berger area of Lagos. The visit was a poignant and private moment for the boxer, who had specifically requested to see the bodies of his late associates one last time before they left Nigeria.
An official from the funeral home, who spoke anonymously, revealed to The Guardian that the remains of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele had already been transported to the airport for repatriation to the United Kingdom. However, Joshua insisted they be brought back to the facility so he could pay his final respects.
"He insisted that we bring back the bodies so that he could see his late friend for the last time before repatriation," the official stated. The entire somber event was brief, lasting only about ten minutes. Joshua was described as calm, greeting everyone present before viewing the bodies, thanking the staff, and departing with his mother.
Why the Route Went Through Istanbul
In a related development, the Chief Executive Director of TOS Funeral Home, Debayo TOS, explained the logistical reason behind the chosen repatriation route. Instead of a direct flight from Lagos to London, the remains were scheduled to travel via Istanbul, Turkey.
Debayo cited the lengthy protocols required by British Airways for transporting human remains directly from Nigeria to the UK. "Working out papers to move corpses from Lagos to London usually takes days; you have to write to the funeral homes in the UK and get approval," he explained.
Given the urgent timeframe and the need to complete all documentation quickly, the funeral home opted for the route through Istanbul to expedite the process. "In this case, the time is very short, and we need to get the papers ready in a very short time. That explains why we had to move the bodies through Istanbul," Debayo told The Guardian.
Background of the Tragic Accident
This solemn farewell follows a tragic road accident that occurred on Monday along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu in Ogun State. The Lexus SUV carrying Anthony Joshua collided with a stationary truck.
While the 36-year-old British-Nigerian boxer, who was seated in the rear, survived with minor injuries, the crash claimed the lives of the two British men travelling with him: Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Police confirmed the details of the fatal incident.
The visit to TOS Funeral Home marks a heartbreaking chapter for Joshua, who has shown immense composure while honoring the memory of his lost friends before they begin their final journey home.
