Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped dying after altering seats shortly earlier than a deadly automobile crash that killed two of his companions, in response to a report by the UK newspaper Each day Mail.
The 36-year-old boxer was initially sitting within the entrance passenger seat of his SUV however moved to the again moments earlier than the crash. The late change is believed to have performed a key function in saving his life.
The accident occurred on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, considered one of Nigeria’s busiest and most harmful roads. Two passengers, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, misplaced their lives within the crash. They’d arrived in Nigeria simply hours earlier for a vacation.
Particulars of the incident had been revealed on the Sagamu Excessive Courtroom, the place Joshua’s long-time driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged with harmful driving inflicting dying. Kayode pleaded not responsible, claiming the crash was attributable to brake failure.
The courtroom additionally heard that the motive force didn’t have a sound driving licence on the time of the accident.
Kayode, who has labored for Joshua for over three years, was granted bail of 5 million naira. The courtroom famous that bail could possibly be secured with valuables slightly than money. The case was adjourned till January 20.
Chatting with the Each day Mail, Kayode’s lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, stated the journey began in Lagos with Joshua sitting within the entrance seat. He defined that the motive force requested Joshua to maneuver to the again as a result of his dimension was blocking the wing mirror.
“He requested Anthony to maneuver so he may see clearly,” the lawyer stated. “Latif was on the again and later modified seats with Anthony.”
Exterior the courtroom, Kayode’s household reacted emotionally. Whereas his spouse was too upset to talk, his 19-year-old son, Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, defended his father.
“My dad just isn’t a quick driver,” he stated. “He was inside the velocity restrict when the brakes failed. He tried to keep away from a truck parked by the roadside however ended up hitting it.”
He added that they’d simply picked the group up from the airport and had been solely minutes away from Sagamu to go to Joshua’s household when the crash occurred.
Joshua was taken to hospital after the accident and is reported to be in steady situation. The incident has shocked many, with the seat change described as a reminder of how shut the boxer got here to dropping his life.
