The Ogun State Police Command has detained the driver of the Lexus SUV conveying former world boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, and two of his friends before it crashed on Monday around Danco on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
PUNCH Metro gathered from police and family sources that the driver, identified as Kayode Adeniyi, is a 47-year-old long-time member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team.
A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment officially, said Adeniyi had worked with the boxer for several years whenever he visited Nigeria.
“Kayode Adeniyi, 47, is a long-time member of Joshua’s Nigerian logistics team,” the source said.
A family source also confirmed the identity of the driver, noting that he is a Nigerian and was reported to be in a coma shortly after the accident.
“He is a Nigerian. We learnt he was in a coma after the incident. Joshua’s logistics are always arranged for him whenever he is in the country,” the source said during a telephone interview on Thursday.
Confirming the development, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the driver was in custody and investigations were ongoing.
“The driver of the Lexus SUV in connection with the Anthony Joshua accident case is currently in custody. Investigations are ongoing,” he said, without providing further details.
Joshua was involved in the crash at about 11am on Monday when the Lexus SUV, with registration number KRD 850 HN, collided with a stationary truck. Two occupants of the vehicle died in the accident.
The deceased were identified as Ayodele Kelvin Olu, 36, a Nigerian-British citizen, and Gami Sina, 36, a British citizen.
Meanwhile, the Lagos and Ogun state governments on Wednesday announced Joshua’s discharge from the hospital following the incident.
In a joint statement signed by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Ogun State Governor, Kayode Akinmade, and the Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, the governments expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the accident as painful and deeply unfortunate.
The statement disclosed that Joshua and his mother visited a Lagos funeral home on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the deceased, whose bodies were being prepared for repatriation.
According to the statement, Joshua was discharged from Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, late on Wednesday after doctors confirmed he was clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.
Governors Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State thanked members of the public for their prayers and support and also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support during the period.
They further commended the medical team at Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, for their professionalism and dedication in treating Joshua and other victims of the crash.
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