Clarion Newschannel
December 30, 2025
Sagamu, Ogun State – British-Nigerian heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is in stable condition after surviving a devastating road accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that claimed the lives of two of his closest team members and friends.
The crash occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, at approximately 11 a.m. local time in Makun, Ogun State, near the Sagamu Interchange and just before Danco Filling Station on the Ibadan-bound lane. Joshua, 36, was a passenger in a black Lexus SUV travelling from Lagos when the vehicle collided with a stationary truck parked by the roadside.
Preliminary investigations by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) indicate that the Lexus was travelling beyond the prescribed speed limit, lost control during a wrongful overtaking manoeuvre, and slammed into the truck. The FRSC described excessive speed and dangerous overtaking as primary causes, noting these as leading factors in fatal crashes on Nigerian highways.
Two passengers – identified as Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach specialising in sports rehabilitation and injury prevention, and Kevin ‘Latif’ or ‘Lateef’ Ayodele, his personal trainer – tragically died at the scene. A total of five adult males were involved: two fatalities, Joshua and one other passenger sustained injuries but were stable, while two others escaped unhurt.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries, was immediately evacuated along with the other injured passenger to a specialised medical facility in Lagos. A joint statement from the Ogun and Lagos State governments confirmed that following thorough clinical assessments, both patients are stable, conscious, and do not require emergency interventions. Joshua has been in communication with his family and remains under observation.
Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, issued a statement expressing profound sadness: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele. Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team.” The statement requested privacy for the bereaved families.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally spoke with Joshua to convey condolences, describing the incident as a “tragic accident” and wishing him a speedy recovery.
The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major thoroughfare linking Nigeria’s economic hub to other regions, is notorious for high fatality rates, particularly during the festive season with increased traffic from returning diaspora Nigerians. Joshua, who has strong family ties in nearby Sagamu and spent part of his childhood in Nigeria, had arrived in the country following his recent sixth-round knockout victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances. The deceased were conveyed to a morgue in Sagamu, and emergency responders arrived swiftly at the scene.
Tributes have poured in from the boxing community, with Jake Paul posting: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Anthony Joshua Narrowly Escapes Death in Horrific Crash That Claims Lives of Two Close Friends
