Anthony Joshua cheated death minutes before the fatal crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria.
The two-time heavyweight champion escaped with minor injuries after Monday’s crash that tragically took the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, long-time members of Joshua’s boxing team and his close friends.
Joshua was sat directly behind the vehicle’s driver with it now emerging the 36-year-old swapped seats with Ayodele shortly before their car struck a stationary truck, moving from the front seat to the back.
The driver of the black Lexus SUV, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, appeared at a hearing at Sagamu High Court at which he denied all charges against him including dangerous driving. He claims the brakes of the vehicle were not in working order, leading to the fatal crash.
His lawyer Olalekan Abiodun made the stunning revelation that Joshua was urged to move to the back seat of the car as his 6f 6in frame was blocking the wing mirror.
The driver’s lawyer told the Daily Mail: ’My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident, I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes did not work.
‘I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.‘
‘He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver.
‘From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.’
Police brought four charges against the driver; causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence.
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.
Joshua was discharged from hospital on New Year’s Eve. Joshua’s mother Yeta Odusanya rushed to her son’s bedside following the tragedy with the pair paying their respects to his ‘departed friends’ at a funeral home on Wednesday afternoon ahead of their repatriation to the UK.
A statement from the regional governments of Lagos and Ogun said: ‘Anthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home.
‘Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening.’
