The Ogun State Police Command has arrested the driver of the Lexus SUV that was conveying former world boxing champion Anthony Joshua and two close friends before it crashed on Monday around Danco, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
Police and family sources confirmed that the driver is a 47-year-old man identified as Kayode Adeniyi, who has reportedly been a long-time member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation, said Adeniyi has worked with Joshua for several years. Another source close to the family also confirmed that the driver is Nigerian and disclosed that he was in a coma shortly after the accident. The source added that Joshua’s logistics are usually arranged locally whenever he visits the country.
Confirming the arrest in a brief statement on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the driver of the Lexus SUV connected to the Anthony Joshua accident is currently in custody, adding that investigations are ongoing.
The accident occurred at about 11 a.m. on Monday and involved a Lexus SUV with registration number KRD 850 HN, which reportedly collided with a stationary truck. Two occupants of the vehicle died in the crash. They were identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu, 36, a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, 36, a British citizen.
On Wednesday, the Lagos and Ogun state governments announced that Anthony Joshua had been discharged from hospital following the accident. This was disclosed in a joint statement signed by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho.
The governments expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the incident as painful and deeply unfortunate, and offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed.
The statement also revealed that Anthony Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the two late friends, whose bodies were being prepared for repatriation later that day.
According to the statement, Joshua was discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, after doctors confirmed he was clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.
Governors Dapo Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu thanked members of the public for their prayers, concern, and support, and also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support during the period. The governments further commended the medical team at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for their professionalism and care in attending to Joshua and other injured victims of the crash.
