Former World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death after a last-minute change of seats moments before a devastating car crash that claimed the lives of two of his companions, according to revelations published by the UK newspaper Daily Mail.
The 36-year-old boxer had initially been seated in the front passenger seat of his SUV but switched to the back shortly before the collision, a twist of fate that may have saved his life.
The crash, which occurred on Nigeria’s notoriously dangerous Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, killed Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele just hours after they arrived in the country for a holiday.
The Daily Mail reports that the startling details emerged during proceedings at the Sagamu High Court, where Joshua’s long-time driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was arraigned on multiple charges including dangerous driving causing death. Kayode pleaded not guilty, insisting the crash was the result of brake failure.
Court revelations also disclosed that the driver did not possess a valid driving licence at the time of the accident.
Kayode, who has worked for Joshua for more than three years, was granted bail in the sum of five million naira, with the court noting that Nigerian law allows bail to be secured through valuables rather than cash. His trial has been adjourned until January 20.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the driver’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, said the journey had begun in Lagos with Joshua initially sitting in the front seat. According to him, the driver requested a seat change because Joshua’s size was obstructing his view of the wing mirror.
“He asked Anthony to move to the back seat so he could see properly,” the lawyer said. “Latif was originally at the back and then changed seats with Anthony.”
Outside the courtroom, emotions ran high. While Kayode’s wife was reportedly too distressed to speak, his 19-year-old son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, maintained his father’s innocence in comments to the Daily Mail.
“My dad is not a fast driver. He was following the speed limit when the brakes failed,” he said. “He tried to swerve to avoid a truck parked by the side of the road but ended up hitting it.”
He added that the group had been picked up from the airport and were only minutes away from arriving in Sagamu to visit Joshua’s family when tragedy struck.
Joshua, who was hospitalised following the crash, is understood to be in stable condition. The incident has sent shockwaves through both sporting and public circles, with the Daily Mail describing the seat swap as a chilling reminder of how narrowly the boxer escaped the same fate as his late companions.