Anthony Joshua’s ‘reckless’ driver is pictured as he faces potential life sentence over Nigeria crash that left boxer in hospital and killed two of his close friends

This is the driver 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, first photographed here, was behind the wheel of a black Lexus SUV while driving Joshua and his friends when he crashed into the back of a stationary truck carrying soybeans.

Strength and conditioning coach Sina Gami and personal trainer Latif Ayodele, both 36 years old, died instantly in the accident, which occurred when the side of the vehicle was cut.

The 36-year-old boxer and Kayode escaped without serious injury.

Joshua’s survival was miraculous because he switched seats with Latif at the last minute before the group headed from the capital Lagos to the town of Sagamu, an hour away where the fighter’s family was located.

Kayode appeared before a judge in Sagamu on Friday, accused of dangerous driving causing death, careless and negligent driving, being incapable of driving, and causing material damage and damage to property by driving without due care and attention.

If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.

Authorities are still searching for the driver of the truck illegally parked on the Lagos-Ibadan highway, one of Nigeria’s deadliest roads.

Anthony Joshua, 36, returned to the UK after his horrific 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 was detained until bail of 5 million Naira (£2,500) was paid and is understood to have been 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 chance to speak to him fully yet but I know he said the brakes failed.

‘I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and initially Anthony sat in the front seat but the driver asked him to change seats.

“He did this because Anthony was a big man and couldn’t see the side mirror properly, so he asked him to move and sat behind the driver.”

‘From what I understand, Latif was in front and then switched seats with Anthony.’

Outside court the driver’s wife was also hysterical but her son told the Daily Mail his father was innocent and it was ‘just an unfortunate accident’.

Ifeoluwa Adeniyi, 19, told the Daily Mail: ‘The family is very saddened by what happened and we are saddened by the deaths of two people.

‘My father is not a fast driver, he was obeying the speed limit, then the brakes stopped working, he said he pressed the pedal but nothing happened.

Police are continuing their efforts to find the driver of the illegally parked truck that crashed into the vehicle carrying Joshua.

Joshua is seen with his friends Latif Ayodele (center) and Sina Ghami, who died in the accident

‘He tried to avoid the truck parked on the side of the road but crashed into it.

‘I know Anthony was sitting in the front next to the driver when the journey started in Lagos, but my father asked him to sit in the back because it was blocking his view.

‘She was taking Anthony to see his family in Sagamu and had picked them up from the airport and they were only minutes away from arriving.’

Mr Adeniyi added: ‘He has been driving for Anthony for three years, he is a good driver.

‘It’s not his fault, if the truck hadn’t been parked there illegally this wouldn’t have happened.’

Kayode’s next hearing is scheduled for January 20 and police sources in Nigeria said Joshua, who returned to the UK by private jet last Friday, may have to return to give evidence.

Meanwhile, a source close to Joshua denied reports in the Nigerian media that he had told his family that he had ‘quit boxing’.

However, according to Nigerian newspaper The Punch, Joshua will never return to the ring after the accident; The heavyweight star has reportedly informed his family that he will be hanging up his gloves.

Anthony Joshua (center) is flanked (left to right) by Sina Ghami’s sister, Latif Ayodele’s mother, Sina’s mother and his own mother. In this photo, the boxer shared on Instagram following the funeral of the two men on Sunday.

Adedomola Joshua, 75, the boxer’s great-uncle, said: ‘The most important thing is that he has retired from boxing.

‘That’s one of the things that makes us happy because every time he fights in the ring, we get emotionally involved.

‘Every time we fall, it’s like our heart is coming out of our chest.

‘Whenever he fights, those emotional feelings create a lot of trauma for us as well.

‘We are happy that he now says he is leaving while the applause is at its highest.’

On Sunday, Joshua attended the funerals of both his friends at London Central Mosque and posted a photo of himself with his relatives on his Instagram page.

Joshua first became a household name when he won the gold medal in the super heavyweight category at the London Olympics in 2012.

His first professional boxing fight took place the following year when AJ defeated Emanuele Leo at the 02 Arena in London.

Since then, he has claimed several major scalps, overcoming the likes of Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Otto Wallin and Robert Helenius.

Joshua has won 28 of his 33 fights, losing just four times, losing to Daniel Dubois outside Wembley stadium in September 2024 before his winning bout with Jake Paul in Miami.

Joshua was expected to fight again in the Middle East in the spring and there was talk of a £100 million fight with Tyson Fury later this year but nothing has been confirmed yet.