The chauffeur who was driving Anthony Joshua when a car crash killed two of the boxer’s close friends has appeared before a court in Nigeria. Adeniyi Kayode, 46, arrived at the Sagamu Magistrates Court in Ogun State on Tuesday but did not enter a plea. The hearing was adjourned until 25 February after the prosecutor asked for more time to obtain legal advice.
Kayode, who was dressed in a black hoodie, black trousers and black shoes, remained silent throughout the brief court appearance. He had earlier been charged with four offences, including causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. He was previously granted bail set at five million naira.
The case stems from a fatal accident on 29 December, when the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua collided with a stationary lorry on the busy Lagos Ibadan expressway in south west Nigeria. Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and his strength coach, Sina Ghami, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Anthony Joshua, who was 36 at the time, was injured and later treated in hospital before being discharged two days after the crash. Images later showed him being helped from the wreckage.
Anthony Joshua was travelling to Sagamu, a town in Ogun State where his family has roots, to visit relatives for New Year celebrations when the accident happened. Following the tragedy, the former heavyweight champion paid tribute to his late friends on Instagram, writing: “I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.”
In the weeks since the crash, it was revealed on 16 January that Joshua had returned to the gym as he continues his physical and emotional recovery. His promoter Eddie Hearn said the boxer will decide on his future only when he feels ready. Hearn told Sky Sports: “He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future. I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right. It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved. When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him. That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”
Kayode’s next court appearance is now scheduled for 25 February as legal proceedings continue.
