Anthony Joshua’s driver in Nigeria is facing potential charges of ‘reckless driving’ following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends. The 47-year-old chauffeur, a key member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team, is expected to be formally charged within the next 48 hours, as reported by The Daily Mail.
After being discharged from a hospital in Lagos on New Year’s Eve, the driver was transported to Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state, where the fatal crash occurred. Following several hours of questioning, he provided an official statement detailing the events leading up to the accident, which resulted in the deaths of Joshua’s friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele.
Joshua, who has also been released from the hospital, visited a funeral home with his mother to pay their respects to Ghami and Ayodele before their repatriation to the UK. According to a police source cited by the Mail, the driver, after receiving treatment for minor injuries, was taken to the state police headquarters for interrogation. The source mentioned that a charging decision is pending, likely for reckless driving, with a potential court appearance on Friday.
The incident occurred when Joshua was traveling in a black Lexus Jeep that collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. The driver of the truck fled the scene and is now wanted by the police. According to Babatunde Akinbiyi, a spokesperson for Ogun State’s Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, preliminary investigations indicated overspeeding by the SUV Joshua was in, leading to a burst front tire, loss of control, and the subsequent collision with the truck.
Eddie Hearn, chairman of Joshua’s promotional company Matchroom, expressed his condolences for Ghami and Ayodele, calling them “two great men” in a heartfelt Instagram post. In other news, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season, offering over 1,400 live matches across various football leagues, including at least 215 live Premier League games.