The driver of the car involved in the fatal crash that injured Anthony Joshua and killed two of his friends and team members has been charged by Nigerian police.
Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode was charged on four counts including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a licence at the Sagamu Magistrate Court on Friday.
Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua was a passenger in a Lexus SUV which hit a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, Nigeria on Monday, December 29.
While the British boxer escaped with minor injuries and has since been discharged from hospital, his close friends and long-term members of his team, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and Sina Ghami, were killed in the accident.
Prosecutors confirm the charges against Kayode, 46, are causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence.
The case has been adjourned until January 20 for trial.
Who were Anthony Joshua's friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami?
Throughout his time in boxing, Anthony Joshua has kept a close-knit circle of friends and associates around him, plenty of those working silently behind the scenes during his ascent to the summit of the sport.
Both Ghami and Ayodele were part of that group, considered good friends having worked closely with him for years.
Who is Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele?
‘Latz’ is a long-time friend of Joshua’s and has been part of the AJ team going all the way back to his maiden world title victory over Charles Martin in 2016.
Ayodele was Joshua’s personal trainer and a dedicated Muslim having converted to Isam in 2012.
His Instagram feed is littered with images and videos of him alongside Joshua in the gym and relaxing away from it.
Just hours before the crash, he shared a video on Instagram of him and Joshua smiling and laughing over a game of table tennis.
Latif worked with a number of other prominent sports men and women with New Zealand rugby legend Sonny Bill Williams among those paying tribute.
According to his Facebook profile, he attended St Joan of Arc Catholic School in Rickmansworth, a few miles from Joshua’s hometown of Watford.
Who is Sina Ghami?
Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, a role he held for more than a decade.
He was also the co-founder of Evolve Gym in London. Their website states Ghami was a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialises in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise.
Ghami was at Joshua’s side throughout his career, including his crowning moment against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in 2017.
His last Instagram story appeared to be a shot of Joshua’s motorcade through Lagos.
Kayode was granted bail in the sum of 5,000,000 Naira (£2,578) and was remanded pending his bail conditions being met.
On Thursday, New Year’s Day, it was reported that police were on the hunt for the driver of the truck that Joshua’s car had crashed into.
On New Year’s Eve, after leaving hospital, Joshua and his mother, Yeta Odusanya, visited the funeral home in Lagos to pay his final respects to his two close friends.
‘Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed,’ Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn wrote.
‘Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
