A dramatic twist of events has revealed that Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death just moments before the fatal car crash that claimed the lives of two of his friends, according to details published by the UK’s Daily Mail on Friday.
The former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, aged 36, reportedly switched seats from the front to the back of his SUV shortly before the crash, which resulted in the deaths of Sani Ghami and Latif Adeyole only hours after they arrived in Nigeria for a holiday.
His driver, 47-year-old Kayode Adeniyi, appeared in court on Friday, where he denied all the charges brought against him, including dangerous driving.
Adeniyi, who was dressed in a black Muslim kaftan, pleaded not guilty as the charges were read to him by the court clerk, with members of his family present. He insisted that he was innocent and claimed that the brakes failed.
Adeniyi, who has been employed as Joshua’s driver for more than three years, was granted bail and was swiftly escorted by police officers to the Sagamu Correctional Centre so that documentation could be completed.
The driver’s legal counsel, Olalekan Abiodun, 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.”
According to him, this was because Anthony is a large-built individual and the driver was unable to see the wing mirror clearly, so he requested that Joshua move to the back and sit directly behind him.
The report further indicated that one of Joshua’s friends later exchanged seats with him, and that side of the vehicle became the main impact point during the collision.
Outside the court premises, the driver’s wife was reportedly too emotional to speak, while his son said the family believed he was innocent and described the incident as “just an unlucky accident.”
Nineteen-year-old Ifeoluwa Adeniyi said: “The family is very upset by what’s happened and we are sorry for the deaths of the two people.
“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 hit 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 and had picked them up from the airport and 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.”
Kayode Adeniyi was arraigned on Friday before Chief Magistrate Jumoke Somefun of Court 1 on a four-count charge which covered dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and operating a vehicle without a valid National Driver’s Licence.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant committed an offence contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F:135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Ogun State.
He was also charged under Section 6(1) of the same Act for reckless and negligent driving.
In addition, the police accused the defendant of causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act, as well as driving without a valid National Driver’s Licence, contrary to Section 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act.
After the charges were read, Chief Magistrate Somefun granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in the same amount.
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