By Danjuma Amodu
Fresh details have emerged surrounding the fatal road accident involving Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was moments away from tragedy when a last-minute seat swap likely spared his life during a unfortunate crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025.
The Lexus SUV he was traveling in collided with a stationary truck near Makun, Ogun State, killing his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, and personal trainer, Latif (Latz) Ayodele, two close friends who had just arrived in Nigeria for a holiday.
Joshua, who initially sat in the front passenger seat, moved to the rear seat at the driver’s request moments before impact. That split‑second decision is now credited with saving his life. He sustained only minor injuries and was discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Lagos, on December 31 after being deemed clinically fit.
The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode (47), was arrested and arraigned before a Sagamu High Court on January 2, 2026. He faces four charges: dangerous driving causing death, reckless driving, driving without due care, and operating without a valid license. Kayode pleaded not guilty, claiming brake failure, but was granted bail of ₦5 million with two sureties and remanded pending fulfilment of conditions. His trial is set for January 20, 2026.
Joshua has since returned to the United Kingdom and is recovering at home. Funeral prayers for Ghami and Ayodele will be held on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at London Central Mosque by 10:00 a.m, with their bodies repatriated following the accident.
President Bola Tinubu and governors of Lagos and Ogun states have expressed condolences, while the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed excessive speed and wrongful overtaking as primary causes of the accident.
