Divine intervention? Anthony Joshua made last-second seat change that saved his life in fatal car crash

Incredible detail on how Anthony Joshua survived fatal crash emerges as charges for driver revealed

Nigerian police on Friday charged the driver of a car, carrying British boxer Anthony Joshua that was involved in a fatal crash, with “reckless” and “dangerous driving causing death”.

Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was also charged with driving without a valid “driver’s licence” and “driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property”, Oluseyi Babaseyi, a spokesman for the police in Ogun state, told AFP.

READ: Anthony Joshua pays ‘final respects to departed friends’ after leaving hospital

He was granted a five million naira bail ($3,500) but will remain in detention until he meets bail conditions, Babaseyi said.

Kayode was driving the boxer and two of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in southwest Nigeria when the Lexus SUV in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck on Monday.

Nigerian police and state officials said that Ayodele and Ghami died at the scene, while Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries.

It’s since been revealed that Joshua only cheated death after changing seats in the vehicle at the last minute, according to The Telegraph.

The publication reports that it was claimed in court Joshua was initially in the front seat, but moved to the back of the SUV at the request of the driver, who was struggling to see the side mirror past the heavyweight boxer.

The Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) in Ogun state, where the accident occurred, told AFP earlier in the week that its preliminary investigations showed that the vehicle was moving at an excessive speed and had burst a tyre before the crash.

Kayode is due to appear in court on January 20.

Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital following the devastating car crash in Nigeria that left two of his close friends dead.

The two-time heavyweight champion was travelling in a Lexus SUV on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria on Monday when it hit a stationary vehicle.

Joshua escaped with ‘minor’ injuries but close friends and long-time members of his team Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami were killed instantly.

JUST IN: The Five Words Anthony Joshua Immediately Cried Out After Car Crash That Kille

Joshua’s mother Yeta Odusanya rushed to her son’s bedside following the tragedy with the pair paying their respects to his ‘departed friends’ at a funeral home on Wednesday afternoon ahead of their repatriation to the UK.

A statement from the regional governments of Lagos and Ogun said: ‘Anthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home.

‘Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening.

‘Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deeply appreciate the public concern and show of love and affection over this very sad and unfortunate incident.’

The post also thanked the team of doctors and medical staff at the Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi ‘that attended to Anthony and those that sustained injuries.’

Ayodele was a long-time friend of Joshua’s, serving as his personal trainer.

Ghami worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, another who has been part of ‘AJ’s team for several years.

‘Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed,’ Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn wrote on Wednesday.

‘Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.’

The Five Words Anthony Joshua Immediately Cried Out After Car Crash That Killed Two of His Friends

British former two-time heavyweight world champion boxer Anthony Joshua continues his recovery in a Nigerian hospital following a horror crash that killed two people close to the fighter. Joshua’s two long-term friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, were both killed as the black Lexus the group were travelling in hit a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria on Monday.

Joshua could be seen, via footage uploaded to social media, being helped from the wreckage. The boxer was then swiftly transported to the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos to receive treatment for what are reported to be minor injuries at this stage.

READ: Anthony Joshua’s Injuries Feared to be ‘Worse Than First Thought’ After Fatal Car Crash

The incident throws any immediate plans for a showdown between Joshua and fellow Brit Tyson Fury into severe doubt while AJ continues to recover and come to terms with the untimely loss of his friends. Both Ghami and Ayodele happened to be sitting on the opposite side of the vehicle to Joshua and the driver when the Lexus ended up coming into contact with the stationary truck.

Aftermath of Anthony Joshua’s Fatal Car Crash

Investigators have since revealed that the vehicle that Anthony Joshua was travelling in suffered a tyre blowout. Babatunde Akinbiyi, the Police Commander of Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (Trace), stated that the vehicle had ‘experienced a tyre burst because of excessive speed’ on one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads.

The crash comes days after Anthony Joshua’s victory over Jake Paul in Miami, Florida. The British heavyweight felled The Problem Child with a monstrous right hand in round six of their contest to claim victory. Despite Joshua’s feelings of pain following Monday’s crash, the boxer remains in a stable condition. Joshua was heard to cry out ‘I feel pain all over‘ once freed from the wreckage, sparking fears about the extent of the fighter’s injuries.

Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confirmed that Joshua’s mother, Yeta Odusanya, had rushed to her son’s bedside after being informed of the incident. Tributes continue to pour in for both Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, with Joshua’s prospective next opponent, Tyson Fury, writing on Instagram on Tuesday: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”

Why Anthony Joshua Was in Nigeria

The trip to Nigeria was intended as a week’s holiday visiting family for Anthony Joshua, as footage emerged after the crash of the fighter playing table tennis with his friends while taking some time out of his busy schedule. The former two-time world champion was due to begin a training camp potentially in Saudi Arabia prior to facing kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in the lead up to the rumoured contest with Fury.

All that will sadly now have to wait as Joshua is set to spend New Year’s Eve in hospital while recovering both physically and mentally from a traumatic experience. Representatives for Joshua said in regard to the tragic deaths of Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele: “Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news.”

Ever since the news of Anthony Joshua being involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria broke, the boxing world has been holding its breath to find out the extent of his injuries.

The former heavyweight world champion was one of the four people inside the black Lexus Jeep, which crashed into a stationary red commercial Sinotruck near Lagos on Monday, the 29th of December. The driver of the vehicle and Joshua survived, but the two other passengers in the car, Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele, both friends of ‘AJ,’ sadly passed away at the scene due to their injuries.

Although this is a situation which is much bigger and more important than boxing, naturally, due to his fame and accomplishments in the sport, fans have been eagerly awaiting an update on what injuries Joshua suffered as a result of the crash.

JUST IN: Canelo Alvarez’s return to face undefeated ‘boogeyman’ for his for

Shortly after the accident happened, there were claims that the Brit initially suffered “minor” injuries, but there are now fears that the damage he sustained is more severe than first thought.

Although it seemed that Joshua had escaped the fatal car crash he was involved in Nigeria with just “minor” injuries, there are now major fears that this may not be the case.

As first reported by the Daily Mail, sources close to Joshua are now saying that the damage he sustained could be “more severe than publicised.” Even though Nigerian authorities have downplayed the amount of damage he suffered, the Brit was visibly in agony right after the crash in footage which was posted online by bystanders.

Specifically, the possibility of injuries to his rib and knee was floated around by members of Joshua’s inner circle, which, of course, wouldn’t be good news for the future of his boxing career. Although no injuries are good injuries, the most important thing is that he is in a stable condition after the fatal crash.

Tributes Have Poured in For Joshua’s Friends Who Passed Away

Eddie Hearn, as well as Anthony Joshua’s most recent opponent, Jake Paul, are among many people to have posted tributes to social media for Sina Ghami and Kevin “Latif / Latz” Ayodele, who were the two fatalities in the car crash.

Hearn, below an official statement from Matchroom Boxing, called Ghami and Ayodele “two great men.”

View this post on Instagram

Paul issued a similar statement to X, formerly known as Twitter, and sent thoughts and prayers to Joshua, as well as the families of the two men who lost their lives in the crash.

Anthony Joshua was involved in a deadly car crash in Nigeria when he was a passenger in a car that ploughed into the back of a stationary truck.

The 36-year-old two-time unified world heavyweight champion suffered ‘minor’ injuries in the crash. But the incident took the lives of two friends he was travelling with in the car – Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele.

The incident happened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria on Monday and videos of the aftermath were taken roadside by onlookers as AJ was helped from the wreckage and taken to hospital, where his condition is said to be ‘stable’.

JUST IN: Anthony Joshua ‘in pain’ as health update emerges after car crash that killed two friends

Joshua was filmed looking dazed as he sat in the back passenger seat behind the driver before he grimaced in agony as he exited the vehicle. The two passengers on the other side of the car were the two who tragically died. While the driver was “relatively unharmed”.

A representative of Joshua issued a statement on Monday confirming the deaths of the boxer’s team members and ‘close friends’.

The spokesman said: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier today, the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin “Lateef” Ayodele.

“Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news.

“Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, he is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation. No further information will be made available at this time.”

Despite initial fears over the extent of Joshua’s physical injuries being publicly played down, the Daily Mail reported that sources close to the fighter say they fear the damage could be more severe.

The risk of significant injuries to Joshua’s ribs and knee has been mentioned by an individual in his inner circle. Footage filmed roadside showed AJ climbing out of the vehicle gingerly and grimacing in agony.

Aside from any physical injuries, the mental toll of losing two close friends travelling in the same car as him will be immeasurable.

Joshua’s mum rushed to be by his bedside, where he is reportedly receiving treatment at Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, which is recognised as the country’s best private hospital. AJ has also confirmed to Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu that he is getting the best medical treatment.

According to the Sun, doctors have ruled that the injuries Anthony sustained during the crash were actually not as bad as they had first thought. It has now been revealed that Joshua will remain in hospital for the next couple of days but will be discharged to recover at home.

Police confirmed that a tyre blowout “due to excessive speed” was the cause of Monday’s horror crash.

Initially, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Nigeria suggested that the Jeep may have been speeding and crashed while trying to overtake.

However, Police Commander Babatunde Akinbiyi, from Nigeria’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, has now revealed that preliminary investigations indicate the black Lexus Jeep was travelling on the motorway from Lagos to Sagamu when it “experienced a tyre burst due to excessive speed” and subsequently “lost control.”

A heartbroken Anthony Joshua is said to be in pain ‘everywhere’ after suffering injuries in a fatal car crash that killed two of his friends in Nigeria,

it is claimed in The Sun. Joshua is currently in a luxury hospital in Lagos, where he is expected to remain until the New Year after escaping with just injuries.

The former heavyweight champion was said to be doing OK, but as per claims from sources, he has said: “I feel pain all over my body,” amid earlier reports that his injuries were worse than first feared and could impact his boxing career.

READ: Anthony Joshua: What you may not know about two men killed in

The 36-year-old, who is yet to make his first comment since the tragic accident, was travelling in a Lexus Jeep that collided with a stationary truck on the busy highway on Monday morning. Police are said to believe that the horrific car crash was triggered by a tyre blowout “due to excessive speed.”

The same Sun report, meanwhile, claims that Joshua had searing pain in his knees and cried out in agony as he was taken from the wreckage of the Lexus 4×4. However, tests revealed no fractures.

He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment, while two others in the vehicle died, police confirmed. The two victims have been identified as Kevin Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

They were close companions of Joshua’s and served as key members of his team. Ayodele was the Brit’s personal trainer while Ghami worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade.

It is said that insiders fear the grief and mental scars from the tragedy could put potential fights next year in doubt. Joshua has been lined up for a long-awaited showdown with his bitter UK rival Tyson Fury, but that fight may not now happen.

The President of Nigeria confirmed on Monday that Joshua’s mother had arrived at the hospital to be with her son. Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed in a statement that he had spoken to both Joshua and his mother in a phone call to the hospital where the British boxer was taken following the accident.

Tinubu, who is currently out of the country, said he had offered his condolences to Joshua following the death of his friends Ghami and Ayodele.

He said: “I spoke with AJ on the phone to personally convey my condolences over the death of his two associates. I wished him well and prayed for him. He assured me that he is receiving the best care in the hospital.

“I also spoke with AJ’s mother and prayed for her. She was very appreciative of my call.

“Additionally, I spoke to Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was in the hospital with them. The Governor assured me that he will do everything possible to ensure AJ receives the best possible attention.”

Eddie Hearn, who is chairman of Joshua’s promotional company Matchroom, was among those to pay tribute to the pair when news of their tragic passing was confirmed.

“With the heaviest of hearts,” he shared in a post on Instagram. “Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”

oshua’s uncle, Adedamola Joshua, has also spoken since the tragic news of the accident, revealing that he is yet to locate his nephew after visiting several hospitals.

“We did not know on time that he was involved in an accident, it was really a rude shock to the family because this is not the first time he would be coming to see his family in Sagamu,” he said.

“Anthony Joshua can even come home up to three, four times in a year. We felt so bad because this is the end of the year period which is usually use to rejoice and bond with one another, it is really quite unfortunate.

“The sad news actually jolted Sagamu community and up till now everyone is still in shock. People have kept calling the family members to sympathise with us and get updates

“Since the incident happened, we have been rallying round to see if it is possible to get to see our son but that has been impossible because of his status, we don’t know the hospital he was taken to and we can understand that such is being done to protect him being a world figure.

“However, we have been in touch with his father and mother who are also in Nigeria and they have assured us that Joshua is fine. We are also thinking that it will be fine if they allow even if it just three of the family members to see him, we are all eager to see him but we will still respect the wish of the authority to keep him safe for now.”

Anthony Joshua: What you may not know about two men killed in Ogun crash

As the world continues to grapple with the harsh realities that trailed Monday’s accident involving former World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua, attention has been shifted to the two gentlemen who lost their lives in the accident.

Below are fresh facts on the two crew members who passed on in a fatal accident that occurred along the busy Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, within the Makun axis of Ogun State.

READ: BREAKING: Anthony Joshua in road crash, two die

1. The two people who died in the Anthony Joshua crash, Latz and Sina Evovle, were coaches and close friends of his.

2. Sina Evovle was Anthony Joshua’s strength & conditioning coach. Sina was seen preparing him for his Jake Paul fight 2 weeks ago. He was full of life and excited when the crew landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Monday. He was seen posting videos of their arrival, and the social media is awash with his last post after he passed on a few hours later

3, Latif, aka “Latz” / “Healthy_Mindset” on Instagram, was a close friend, AJ’s personal trainer. Latif was a physical trainer and a devoted muslim with over 11.6k subscribers on Instagram

Although Latif’s nationalities is still sketchy as at the time of filling this report, Sina was originally from Syria even though it is not yet confirmed if both men were carrying a British passport before their death. Tributes continued to pour in for both men on all social media handles, with Latif’s Instagram page filled with hundreds of condolence messages from fellow Muslim brothers.

The boxing champion, 36, was on his way to see family when the Lexus SUV he was travelling in the back of smashed into a stationary truck shortly after 11am today on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in Makun. Images of the SUV’s crumpled wreckage were released by Nigerian officials, while a Mitsubishi believed to be part of Joshua’s convoy sat undamaged just yards away.

Five people were involved in the collision, with photos revealing how the vehicle was destroyed, with the car’s doors ripped out and the roof smashed out of place. Footage posted online earlier shows the former heavyweight world champion shirtless and looking dazed as he sat in the wrecked vehicle among shattered glass.

But while two of the five people involved in the collision died, Joshua miraculously cheated death and was later seen in the front seat of an emergency vehicle speaking to officials.

Joshua was seated behind the driver during the crash and survived despite two fatalities in the collision. He was later seen in an emergency vehicle speaking to officials. A relative expressed shock at the news, hoping for Joshua’s speedy recovery and offering prayers for those who lost their lives. Joshua was reportedly on holiday visiting family when the accident occurred and had shared a video of playing table tennis just hours before.

World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident today in Makun, Ogun State.

Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.

The reporter who reached out to PUNCH Online, who was also part of the rescue mission, said Joshua sustained minor injuries, saying that two people died on the spot.

Adeniyi Orojo who stated that the accident happened just before Danco Filling Station

Fans have flooded social media with messages of concern, while local authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

More updates on Joshua’s condition are expected shortly.

Efforts to reach the TRACE Commandant, Akinbiyi Babatunde on further updates about the crash were futile as calls placed to his line did not go through.