Anthony Joshua's driver attempted overtake before fatal crash, trial hears

What the report says

A court in Nigeria has heard that the driver of a car carrying former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was trying to overtake another vehicle before a crash that killed two members of Joshua’s support team. The BBC reports that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, is facing charges including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid national driver’s licence. He denies the allegations.

According to the court account, Joshua and others were travelling last December to visit his father in Ogun State, near Lagos, when Kayode lost control of the Lexus SUV and collided with a parked lorry after overtaking a moving truck. Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength coach, Sina Ghami, died in the crash. A second defendant, Abubakar Adamu, 35, who was said to be driving the stationary lorry, denies a separate charge of obstructing the free flow of traffic.

Police Inspector Christopher Ajayi Taiwo told the court that when he reached the scene, the vehicles had already been removed, but debris and spilled soya beans were still visible on the road. He said some items were recovered from the Lexus, including a logbook, painkillers and an energy drink. The BBC says police had not yet taken a statement from Joshua, and the trial was adjourned until 10 September.

Joshua, who has family ties to Sagamu in Ogun state, later posted tributes to the two men on social media. The case highlights ongoing questions around road safety and legal responsibility after serious crashes in Nigeria.