While boxing star Anthony Joshua is recovering from the deadly Lagos-Ibadan motorway crash, his driver could be criminally charged. The man who was hired to drive Joshua and his team received medical treatment and was later discharged from the hospital days after the incident.
Officials reported that the driver is helping with the investigation by cooperating with the police. However, he might face potential charges, including reckless driving, pending the outcome of enquiries.
According to a spokesperson for the Nigerian authorities, the driver has been providing officials with his account of the moments leading up to Monday’s accident. The collision occurred when the Lexus SUV Joshua was riding in struck a stationary truck, and preliminary findings suggest the vehicle may have been exceeding the legal speed limit. The truck involved reportedly fled the scene and remains under investigation.
Two people were killed in the crash, and officials identified them as Joshua’s closest associates: Sina Ghami, his rehabilitation coach of over a decade and co-founder of Evolve Gym, and Kevin “Latif” Ayodele, Joshua’s long-time personal trainer and friend. Joshua himself, who had recently defeated Jake Paul in the ring, suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition and in contact with his family.
Authorities said emergency responders arrived quickly, but both Ghami and Ayodele succumbed to their injuries. The Federal Road Safety Corps is continuing to examine the accident, including the movements of both vehicles and any factors that may have contributed to the collision.
Following the crash, Joshua and the families of the victims have been receiving much support. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally reached out to Joshua to offer condolences and confirmed that he also spoke with the athlete’s mother, who expressed her gratitude for the support.
Following the incident, Tributes highlighted Ghami for his dedication to athlete rehabilitation and fitness coaching, while Ayodele earned a reputation for his work both inside and outside the gym, including mentoring young people in the community.
A fundraising campaign has already been launched to honour Ayodele, with more than $180,000 raised to support the construction of a mosque and borehole in his memory.
