The driver behind the wheel during a fatal car accident that left former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua hospitalized and claimed the lives of two members of his training team has been formally charged.
Kayode Adeniyi appeared before Sagamu Magistrates’ Court on Friday facing four criminal counts stemming from the December 29 crash on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria. The charges include dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention resulting in bodily harm and property damage, and operating a vehicle without a valid national driver’s license.
The collision occurred when the Lexus SUV Adeniyi was driving struck a stationary truck, killing Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both close associates of Joshua who worked with his training team. The 36-year-old boxer was hospitalized following the incident but released on Wednesday after medical staff determined he could safely recover at home. Reports indicate Joshua escaped without serious injuries.
Adeniyi entered not guilty pleas to all charges and was granted bail set at 5,000,000 Naira (approximately $3,480). He remains in custody until bail conditions are satisfied. The court adjourned proceedings until January 20 for trial.
Initial investigations determined that excessive speed contributed to the crash. According to preliminary findings, the SUV’s front passenger-side tire burst while the vehicle was traveling at high speed during an overtaking attempt, causing the driver to lose control before colliding with the stationary truck.
Joshua had been vacationing in Nigeria, his ancestral homeland, following his sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami. The fight was broadcast on Netflix and marked a significant moment in the heavyweight division.
The British fighter had planned to resume training in January for a proposed February 14 bout in Saudi Arabia, but those plans have been canceled in the wake of the tragedy.
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