Anthony Joshua’s ‘reckless’ driver is named – and set to be charged by police within 48 hours – as boxer’s friends’ bodies are flown out of Nigeria

A shocking twist of fate meant Anthony Joshua cheated death just before the fatal car crash that killed two of his friends, the Daily Mail has revealed.

The 36-year-old World Champion boxer changed the seats of his SUV from front to back before the accident that killed Sani Ghami and Latif Adeyole, a few hours after arriving in Nigeria for holiday.

Additionally, Daily Mail has learned that Joshua’s driver did not have a valid driver’s license before the crash on Nigeria’s deadliest road, which sent the multimillionaire boxer to hospital.

A jaw-dropping statement emerged at the hearing of his 47-year-old driver, Kayode Adeniyi, at the Sagamu High Court, where he denied all the charges against him, including dangerous driving.

Adeniyi was wearing a black Muslim robe and pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him by the clerk while his family members attended. He claims his innocence and that the brakes failed.

Adeniyi, who had been working for Joshua for over three years, was released on bail and taken by police to Sagamu Prison for paperwork to be completed.

The Daily Mail has obtained a photo of Anthony Joshua smiling with a baggage handler named Solomon as he arrived in Nigeria before his fateful journey.

The Daily Mail can identify the driver who crashed into the car carrying Joshua on Monday as 47-year-old Kayode Adeniyi

The driver’s 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 were not working.

‘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.’

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

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

Bail was set at 5 million Naira (£2,580) but in the Nigerian system this does not have to be cash but valuables are accepted.

Adeniyi was charged with four offences, including dangerous driving causing death, careless and negligent driving, careless and careless driving and driving without a valid licence.

His case was postponed to January 20 this year for trial.

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, said: ‘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.

Joshua was involved in a horrific car accident in Nigeria earlier this week that killed two of his best friends.

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 roadside but crashed into it. He’s been driving Anthony’s car for three years, he’s a good driver.

‘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 was only a few minutes away from arriving.

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