“The Brakes Failed, It Was Just an Accident,” Driver of Anthony Joshua’s SUV Says, Explains Why Joshua Swapped Seats With Late Friend

Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped a deadly car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his friends after he swapped seats with one of them just moments before the collision.

The victims, Sani Ghami and Latif Adeyole, had just arrived in Nigeria for a holiday. They were traveling with Joshua, 36, in a sport utility vehicle driven by Kayode Adeniyi, 47. The crash occurred only minutes after they had left the airport en route to visit Joshua’s family in Sagamu.

According to court proceedings, Joshua initially sat in the front passenger seat, but Adeniyi asked him to move to the back because Joshua’s size obstructed the driver’s view of the wing mirror. Joshua’s friend then took the front seat, which became the side of the vehicle that bore the impact in the crash.

Adeniyi appeared in court Friday before Chief Magistrate Jumoke Somefun at Court 1, facing four charges: dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, causing bodily harm and property damage, and driving without a valid National Driver’s Licence. Adeniyi pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“My client has pleaded not guilty,” said Adeniyi’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun. “He maintains that the brakes failed and this was an accident. Anthony was initially in the front seat, but the driver asked him to move.”

Outside court, Adeniyi’s son, Ifeoluwa, 19, described the crash as a tragic accident. “Dad is not a fast driver. He was following the speed limit and tried to avoid the truck parked illegally on the roadside, but the brakes failed. He has been driving for Anthony for three years and is a careful driver,” he said.

Adeniyi was granted bail of N5 million with two sureties of the same amount but could not meet the conditions. He was subsequently remanded at Sagamu Correctional Centre pending the completion of bail paperwork. The trial is scheduled to continue on January 20, 2026.

The prosecution alleges that Adeniyi’s actions violated Sections 5(1), 6(1), 7(1), and 10(1) of the Federal Highway Act, resulting in bodily harm, property damage, and operating a vehicle without a valid license.