Investigation into Anthony Joshua’s Lagos‑Ibadan expressway crash hit by agency rift

Preliminary efforts to determine the causes of the road crash involving British‑Nigerian boxing champion Anthony Joshua on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway appear to be stalled amid a lack of cooperation between government agencies, NationalDailyNG.com has gathered.

The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) reportedly sought to investigate the December 29, 2025 collision that claimed the lives of two occupants of the Lexus SUV carrying Joshua, but encountered resistance from the Nigeria Police, stalling its efforts.

A source close to the bureau, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NationalDailyNG that NSIB wrote separate letters to both the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Police requesting detailed information about the crash and access to critical materials, including the vehicle’s data recorder — a tool that could provide technical insights into how the accident occurred.

While the FRSC is reported to have cooperated fully with the investigation, the Ogun State Police Command allegedly declined to hand over the data recorder, despite instructions from the Inspector General of Police, the source said.

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According to the insider, the device could have helped investigators download and analyse onboard data to shed light on speed, braking and other factors leading up to the crash.

Efforts to reach the Nigeria Police for comment were unsuccessful. Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer Babaseyi Oluseyi declined to comment on the matter, stating that the case is currently before a court.

The accident on the Lagos‑Ibadan Expressway involved Joshua and three others travelling toward Sagamu, Ogun State.

Two of the passengers died at the scene, while Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries. Emergency responders attributed the crash to wrongful overtaking and speeding, with a report from the FRSC noting excessive speed and a failed overtaking manoeuvre as key factors.

Joshua has since been discharged from hospital, and the vehicle’s driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, was charged with multiple driving offences including dangerous and reckless driving and driving without a valid licence. The court adjourned the trial to January 20.

The incident has already sparked national discourse on road safety and emergency response, but the reported lack of inter‑agency cooperation may hamper efforts to produce a comprehensive technical report that could prevent future tragedies on Nigerian highways.

NationalDailyNG.com reporting indicates that until such cooperation is secured, key answers about what precisely caused the collision may remain elusive.