By Demilade Azeez-
The driver of the doomed Lexus involved in a fatal crash that injured Anthony Joshua and killed two of his close friends has been named and charged with four counts of reckless driving on Friday.
Kayode Mobolaji Adeniyi, 46, was driving the Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria on Dec. 29. The crash led to the tragic deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, members of the former unified heavyweight champion’s training team. Both men had been part of Joshua’s inner circle, one being his friend, and the other his conditioning coach.
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Their sudden untimely deaths sent shock waves across the boxing world and boxing fans in the UK in particular, considering the dead men were very close friends of the heavyweight boxer. A filmed game of table tennis between Joshua and his trainer had been put on instagram shortly before the crash.
Joshua, 36, had a miraculous escape and was initially hospitalized following the crash and discharged on Wednesday after being deemed clinically fit to recuperate from home. Joshua did not suffer any major injuries as a result of the crash. There are some concerns that the tragic loss of his friends under such circumstances may have a serious effect on his boxing career. A mega pay day against Tyson Fury this year is already in doubt.
Adeniyi was charged at the Sagamu Magistrates’ Court on Friday with four counts: Dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention — causing bodily harm and damage to property, and driving without a valid national driver’s license.
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Adeniyi denied all charges, was granted bail for 5,000,000 Naira ($3,480) and remanded in custody until his bail conditions were met, and he case was adjourned until Jan. 20 for trial. The trial will come under great media scrutiny. When the charges were read out in court, Adeniyi pleaded not guilty, and insists the brakes failed when he attempted to stop the car. Police obviously don’t believe him.
The driver as part of his explanation to police said Joshua had initially sat in the front but he asked the heavyweight boxer to swap with one of his friends at the back because he couldn’t see the side mirror clearly enough due to Joshua’s huge size.
A preliminary investigation ruled that the SUV Joshua was traveling in was “over-speeding,” which led to the front tire on the passenger side bursting and a subsequent loss of control of the vehicle during an overtaking manoeuvre, where it crashed into a stationary truck.
Adeniyi is said to be a hired driver who has driven the former world heavyweight champion for the past three years, and was within five minutes of his destination when disaster struck. Joshua and his friends had been in the country for just six hours when the fatal crash occurred.
His wife and son attended the court today, with the latter protesting his father’s innocence.
Their sudden untimely deaths sent shock waves across the boxing world and boxing fans in the UK in particular., considering the dead men were very close friends of the heavyweight boxer. A filmed game of table tennis between Joshua and his trainer had been put on instagram shortly before the crash.
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