The Ogun State Police Command has arrested the driver of a Lexus SUV conveying former world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, and two of his close friends before it was involved in a fatal crash on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The accident occurred around Danco at about 11am and claimed the lives of two occupants of the vehicle. The Lexus SUV, with registration number KRD 850 HN, was said to have collided with a stationary truck.
Findings from police and close family sources revealed that the driver is a 47-year-old man identified as Kayode Adeniyi. He was described as a long-time member of Anthony Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team.
“Kayode Adeniyi, 47, is a long-time member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team,” a police source said. The source, however, requested anonymity, stating that he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the police.
A family source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation, confirmed in a telephone interview on Thursday that the driver is a Nigerian.
“We learnt he was in a coma shortly after the incident. He is a Nigerian. His (Joshua) logistics are always arranged for him whenever he is in the country,” the source said.
Confirming the development in a brief message to journalists on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Oluseyi Babaseyi, stated, “The driver of the Lexus SUV in connection with the Anthony Joshua accident case is currently in custody. Investigations are ongoing.”
The two foreign nationals who died in the crash have been identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu, 36, a Nigerian/British citizen, and Gami Sina, 36, a British citizen.
Anthony Joshua Discharged as States Mourn Deceased Victims
Meanwhile, the Lagos and Ogun state governments announced on Wednesday that Anthony Joshua had been discharged from the hospital following the incident. This was disclosed in a joint statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Ogun State Governor, Mr Kayode Akinmade, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho.
The statement described the incident as painful and deeply unfortunate, while commiserating with the families of the deceased. The two state governments prayed that Almighty God would grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and give their families the strength to bear the irreparable loss.
According to the statement, 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 evening.
It further disclosed that Joshua was discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, late on Wednesday after doctors confirmed that he was clinically fit to continue his recuperation from home.
Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State expressed appreciation to members of the public for the overwhelming concern, prayers, and show of love following the incident.
They also conveyed their gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for what they described as his fatherly support during the period, while commending the doctors and medical personnel at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for their professionalism, dedication, and quality of care in attending to Anthony Joshua and other injured victims.
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