This is the chauffeur who was driving Anthony Joshua when he crashed and killed two of the boxing champion’s best friends in Nigeria last week.
Adeniyi Kayode, 47 – pictured here for the first time – was at the wheel of the black Lexus SUV when it ploughed into the back of a stationary truck carrying soya beans as he drove Joshua and his friends.
Strength and conditioning coach Sina Gami, and personal trainer Latif Ayodele, both 36, were killed instantly in the crash as the vehicle’s side was sheared off.
The boxer, 36, and Kayode himself escaped without incurring serious injuries.
In Joshua’s case, his survival was miraculous as he had swapped seats with Latif at the last minute before the group drove from the capital Lagos to the town of Sagamu, an hour away, where the fighter has family.
Kayode appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu on Friday charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, having no licence and driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm to damage and property.
If convicted he could face life in prison.
The authorities are still hunting for the driver of the truck which was parked illegally on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway – one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads.
Adeniyi Kayode, 47 – pictured here for the first time – was at the wheel of the black Lexus SUV when it ploughed into the back of a stationary truck carrying soya beans as he drove Joshua and his friends
Anthony Joshua, 36, has returned to the UK following the horror car crash in Nigeria on December 29
Father-of-three Adeniyi, who has worked for Joshua for more than three years, was granted bail but returned to custody until the 5 million Naira (£2,500) bond was paid and it is understood he was released yesterday.
After the hearing his lawyer 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 failed.
‘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.
‘He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver.
‘From what I understand Latif was in front and then changed seats with Anthony.’
Outside court the driver’s wife was too hysterical too speak but his son told the Daily Mail his father was innocent and it was ‘just an unlucky accident’.
Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, 19, told the Daily Mail: ‘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.
Police are still hunting for the driver of a truck which was parked illegally and which the car carrying Joshua ploughed into
Joshua pictured with friends Latif Ayodele (centre) and Sina Ghami who both died in the crash
‘He tried to swerve and avoid the truck parked by the side of the road but hit it.
‘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.’
Mr Adeniyi added: ‘He’s been driving for Anthony for three years, he’s a good driver.
‘It’s not his fault, if the truck wasn’t parked there illegally this wouldn’t have happened.’
Kayode is next due in court on January 20 and police sources in Nigeria have said Joshua – who flew back to England last Friday by private jet – may have to return to give evidence.
Meanwhile a source close to Joshua has dismissed reports in Nigerian media that he has told his family he is ‘quitting boxing’.
According to Nigerian newspaper The Punch, however, Joshua won’t ever return to the ring after the crash – with the heavyweight star reportedly informing his family that he’s going to hang up his gloves.
Anthony Joshua (centre) flanked by (left-to-right) Sina Ghami’s sister, Latif Ayodele’s mother, Sina’s mother and his own mother in a picture the boxer posted to Instagram following the two men’s funerals on Sunday
Adedomola Joshua, 75, the boxer’s great uncle, said: ‘The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing.
‘That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally.
‘Each time he’s knocked down, it is just like the heart is coming out of our chest.
‘All these emotional feelings whenever he’s fighting, it’s too much trauma for us, also.
‘Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.’
On Sunday Joshua attended the funerals of both his friends at the Central London Mosque and he posted a picture of himself with their relatives on his Instagram page.
Joshua first became a household name back in 2012, when he won gold in the super-heavyweight division at the London Olympics.
His first professional boxing fight took place the following year, with AJ beating Emanuele Leo at the 02 Arena in London.
Since then, he has claimed many big scalps – overcoming the likes of Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Otto Wallin and Robert Helenius.
Joshua has won 28 of his 33 fights, suffering defeats on just four occasions and before his winning bout with Jake Paul in Miami lost month, he had lost to Daniel Dubois in front of a packed Wembley stadium in September 2024.
Joshua was expected to fight again in the spring in the Middle East and there has been talk of a £100 million bout with Tyson Fury later this year but nothing has been confirmed.
