Extraordinary new detail emerged on Friday afternoon of the fatal crash as Kayode Adeniyi, Joshua’s 47-year-old driver, was charged with causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. Appearing at Sagamu Magistrates’ Court, Adeniyi denied all charges and claimed that the brakes on the vehicle had failed. (Photo: Joshua, lucky to be alive).

It has also emerged that Joshua changed seats to the back of the SUV before the crash, which killed two of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, both 36, soon after they had arrived in Lagos. Adeniyi met Joshua and his team at Lagos Airport before departing for Sagamu, where Joshua had family roots and planned to spend the New Year, with the boxer in the front seat. It was claimed in court that Joshua moved seats at the request of the driver, who was struggling to see the passenger’s wing mirror past the two-time heavyweight world champion. (Photo: Sina Ghami (left) and Latif Ayodele (right); Joshua, centre).

Ayodele and Ghami died after the vehicle collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway. Both were sitting on the side of the car that Joshua was originally in. A manhunt was launched to find the driver of the truck, who reportedly fled the scene. Joshua, 36, sustained injuries but was released from Duchess International Hospital on Wednesday and visited a funeral home to pay respects to his two friends. The bodies of Ghami and Ayodele were repatriated to Britain on Friday morning via Istanbul after being flown by a Turkish Airlines cargo flight, it was reported.

Adeniyi, who is understood to be a long-standing member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team, was himself discharged from hospital on New Year’s Eve before giving an official statement to police and then appearing in court on Friday. He has been granted bail, and the case has been adjourned to January 20. Adeniyi’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty, and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet, but I know he says 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.” Adeniyi’s son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, also said: “Dad is not a fast driver; he was following the speed limit and then the brakes failed.” He said he was pushing the pedal, but nothing was happening. He tries to swerve and avoid the truck parked by the side of the road, but hits it. He’s been driving for Anthony for three years; he’s a good driver.

“I know that when the journey started in Lagos, Anthony was sitting in the front by the driver, but my dad asked him to sit behind because he was blocking his view. He was taking Anthony to see his family in Sagamu. They were only a few minutes from arriving. It’s not his fault; if the truck hadn’t parked there illegally, this wouldn’t have happened. The family is very upset by what’s happened, and we are sorry for the deaths of the two people.” Joshua, who was born in Watford to British-Nigerian parents, was on holiday in Nigeria following his win over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

Courtesy: Daily Telegraph