The driver employed by former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is now facing serious legal consequences following a tragic road accident. Kayode Adeniyi, a 47-year-old driver, is currently standing trial before the High Court of Ogun State in Sagamu.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Adeniyi has been formally charged with manslaughter and reckless driving. The charges stem from a fatal collision that occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025. The driver was initially taken into custody and questioned at the Eleweran Police Station, where he provided his account of the incident. After the preliminary investigation, authorities decided to proceed with a court case. A police source confirmed to The Guardian, "He's currently in court; expect more information on the case."
Controversy and Defence of the Driver
The arrest and prosecution have not been without controversy. A commentator, Menzie Abia, has publicly criticized the government's decision to charge the driver. Abia defended Adeniyi, pointing out that he had been Joshua's trusted Nigerian driver for many years. "If he had been a reckless driver all the years, Anthony Joshua wouldn't have retained him for that long," Abia argued.
He shifted blame towards infrastructural deficiencies, stating, "The government should leave the innocent driver and blame her own incompetence." Abia highlighted the lack of proper road safety measures on the federal highway where the crash occurred, citing absent shoulders, traffic signs, speed limit indicators, and hazard warnings. "A truck was parked on the highway and the government doesn't see that as a serious traffic problem. It's only in Nigeria that the government blames her incompetence on others," he added, expressing pity for the driver whom he believes is being used to obscure governmental failures.
Details of the Fatal Accident and Aftermath
The accident took place on a busy highway in Makun, Ogun State. Anthony Joshua was travelling to visit his family when the vehicle he was in, driven by Adeniyi, collided with a stationary truck. The crash proved fatal for two of Joshua's close companions: Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who were confirmed dead at the scene. Their bodies are set to be repatriated to their families for burial.
Anthony Joshua himself sustained minor injuries in the collision. He was treated at a Nigerian hospital and released after being deemed fit, though he continues his recuperation. The boxing champion is expected to take a break from the sport to mourn the loss of his personal trainer and friends and to fully recover before resuming his active career. The tragic event occurred just hours after Joshua and his associates had been playing tennis together.
