THIS is the chauffeur charged with causing the deaths of two of boxing superstar’s Anthony Joshua’s best pals in a horror smash.
Adeniyi Kayode, 47, was at the wheel of the black Lexus SUV which had its passenger side torn open in a crash into a parked lorry in Nigeria.
Strength and conditioning coach Sina Ghami, and personal trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, both 36, were killed instantly but Joshua and Kayode miraculously escaped serious injury.
The 36-year-old former world heavyweight champ had swapped seats with Latz just before the tragedy on a notorious “Highway of Death” between Lagos and his parents’ home town of Sagamu.
Father-of-three Kayode appeared before a magistrate in Sagamu on Friday charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving and having no licence.
He faces further charges of driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm to damage and property and faces life in prison.
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The driver of the red truck – which had parked beside the highway to unload a cargo of soya beans – was still on the run last night after fleeing the scene.
Kayode’s case has now been adjourned until January 20 for trial.
Police spokesman Oluseyi Babaseyi said: “The defendant was granted bail in the sum of five million naira ($3,480) with two sureties.
“He was remanded pending when he meets his bail condition.”
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 full chance to speak with him yet but I know he is saying the brakes failed.
“I also understand that the journey started in Lagos and that initially Anthony had got into the front seat but the driver asked him to swap seats.
“He did this because Anthony is a big fellow and he couldn’t see the wing mirror properly so he asked him to move and he sat behind the driver.”
The driver, who had worked for AJ for three years, was supported by his family outside court.
His son, 19-year-old Ifeoluwa Adeniyi expressed their sympathies to those who lost their lives.
He claimed the brakes failed and described the collision as “an unlucky accident”.
This comes after Joshua took to social media on Sunday to share some poignant pictures before his pals’ funerals took place.
Joshua shared two pictures, which appear to show himself with the family of his tragic friends, on Instagram.
The images were captioned: “My brothers keeper.”
It comes after The Sun revealed that the boxing superstar had flown back to the UK from Nigeria following the horror crash that left him hospitalised and killed his two pals.
The British heavyweight boxer landed at London Stansted Airport in a private jet on Friday night and was ferried to his mansion where he’ll continue his recuperation.
AJ previously told how he experienced excruciating pain in his knees as he was removed from the wreckage.
The three friends had been on holiday together at the time of the horror.
They had just arrived in Nigeria and were on their way to AJ’s family home for New Year celebrations.
The boxer has also since paid an emotional visit to the funeral home where pals Latz and Sina’s bodies were being held.
Sun Online learned the funerals of Joshua’s pals were held on Saturday at a mosque in London.
Family and friends were invited to a “janaza prayer service” – an Islamic prayer – and funeral of Sina and Latif.
Joshua attended the funeral, the Sun understands.
AJ made a “miracle recovery” after being rushed to the Duchess International Hospital in Lagos for treatment.
The Federal Road Safety Corps said previously the SUV involved was suspected to have been travelling “beyond the legally prescribed speed limit”.
They claimed the car lost control during “an overtaking manoeuvre” before it crashed into the truck on the side of Lagos-Ibadan highway.
A source said: “Preliminary reports indicate the driver exceeded speed limits and overtook dangerously before the crash.
“These are serious offences under Nigerian law and can attract criminal liability if fatalities are involved.”
The stretch of road – the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway – is often described by local media as one of Nigeria’s deadliest routes.
It is known as Nigeria’s “Highway of Death” owing to its horrific safety record.
The 80-mile stretch has claimed 73 lives in the past three months and a total of 645 over the past two years.
Other reports claimed the boxer’s vehicle swerved into the truck after a tyre burst, according to The Times.
The accident came ten days after AJ celebrated knocking out YouTuber Jake Paul in a money-spinning bout in the US.
