The case involving Nigerian-American boxer Anthony Joshua’s driver has been adjourned to September 10 by a court in Nigeria.

The trial began in January this year following a fatal accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, is facing charges including causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid national driver’s licence. He denies the charges.

Cause of accident revealed in court

The court heard that the group, who were travelling to visit Joshua’s father in Ogun State, near Lagos, last December, were asleep when Kayode allegedly lost control of his Lexus SUV while overtaking a moving truck and collided with a parked lorry.

A second defendant, Abubakar Adamu, 35, the driver of the stationary lorry involved in the collision, also denies a charge of obstructing the free flow of traffic.

Police officer’s account

During the trial, Inspector Christopher Ajayi Taiwo of the Ogun State Motor Traffic Division told the court that both vehicles involved in the accident had been removed from the scene by the time police arrived.

He said officers found only debris from the crash and soya beans scattered on the road from the lorry’s load.

The only items recovered from the Lexus were a logbook, painkillers and an energy drink, which were found near the driver’s side, Ajayi said.

The court also heard that police have yet to take a statement from Joshua following the crash.

During cross-examination, Kayode’s lawyer questioned Ajayi about the failure to obtain a statement from Joshua. The officer replied that “efforts are ongoing” and that he had not contacted Joshua because he “didn’t have his number”.

Joshua pays tribute to friends

Following the crash, Joshua paid tribute to Ghami and Ayodele on social media.

“I didn’t even realise how special they are,” he wrote.

“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents,” the former world heavyweight champion wrote.

Tinubu sends condolences to families

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said he had spoken to Anthony Joshua to convey his condolences over the deaths of his two friends in the crash near Lagos.

“I wished him a full and speedy recovery, and prayed with him. AJ assured me he is receiving the best possible care,” Tinubu posted on social media.

“I also spoke with his mother and prayed for her. She was deeply appreciative of the call,” he added.

About the deceased

According to the BBC, the late Latif “Latz” Ayodele was Joshua’s personal trainer.

His passion for the gym was evident on his social media pages, as was his dedication to Islam.

“Finding Islam in 2012 has been my biggest blessing,” he wrote in a pinned post from 2020.

Sina Ghami, on the other hand, was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for more than 10 years.

He also co-founded Evolve Gym in London, which says on its website that Ghami was a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator who specialised in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise.

Ghami had worked with athletes in the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Michigan State University football team.