Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele (right) and Sina Ghami (left), who both died in the crash, are pictured alongside Anthony Joshua. Photograph: Instagram
The British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has issued a statement after he was injured in a car crash in Nigeria on Monday morning which killed two of his close friends.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion was taken to an undisclosed hospital after his car hit a stationary vehicle at about 11am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Ogun state police commissioner, Lanre Ogunlowo, said. The driver of Joshua’s vehicle was also injured, he added.
An official spokesman for Joshua said: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier today, the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele.
“Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news. Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment, he is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.”
Ghami acted as strength and conditioning coach while Ayodele was a trainer in Joshua’s camp. Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn said: “With the heaviest of hearts. Two great men. Rest in eternal peace Sina and Latz [Ayodele]. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with everyone.”
An Ogun police command statement read: “The vehicle conveying Mr Joshua, a Lexus SUV, was involved in the accident under circumstances that are currently being investigated. Joshua, seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and is receiving medical attention with another injured person.
“Tragically, two other passengers in the vehicle lost their lives at the scene. The deceased have been conveyed to Livewell hospital morgue, Sagamu. The Ogun state police command extends heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and assures the public that a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident has commenced.”
The Nigeria president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, added his condolences. He said: “I have spoken with AJ to personally convey my condolences over the passing of his two close associates in the recent accident. I wished him a full and speedy recovery and prayed with him.”
A video shared by the local news outlet Punch appeared to show Joshua sitting in the back left seat of a damaged car. A second video showed him walking slowly and getting into a police vehicle.
Nigeria’s federal road safety corps said in posts on X that it had arrived on the scene within three minutes of being notified. It said: “A total of five adult males were involved in the crash. Two persons sadly lost their lives, one sustained injuries, while two others escaped unhurt. Anthony Joshua was rescued alive and sustained minor injuries.”
The agency added: “Preliminary findings indicate that the Lexus Jeep, which was suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck well packed [sic] by the side of the road.
“The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways.”
Photos shared by the agency on X showed a black car with a badly damaged front and a truck covered in tarpaulin on a downward sloping grass verge, with what appears to be a dent on the left side of its back.
Joshua is the son of British-Nigerian parents and has family ties in the town of Sagamu, about 30 miles north of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos. Police said the crash took place on the north-bound Ibadan side of the highway, close to the junction to Sagamu.
The 36-year-old attended a boarding school in Ikenne, 53 miles from the crash site, before returning to Britain aged 12.
On 20 December, he knocked out the YouTuber Jake Paul in the sixth round of a boxing match streamed live on Netflix, after a 15-month break from the sport. He was expected to fight Tyson Fury, another former world heavyweight champion, fellow Briton and longtime rival, next year.
In a post on X referencing the accident, Paul wrote: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Earlier on Monday morning, Joshua had posted a video of himself playing table tennis on his Instagram stories, without disclosing a location.
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