He is alive because of God's mercy — Pastor Adeboye highlights key exchange which saved Anthony Joshua's life

Pa Enoch Adeboye has said that Anthony Joshua survived the fatal accident due to the mercy of God, suggesting that the decision to swap seats with one of the deceased before the crash was divine design.

The 82-year-old general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the biggest Pentecostal organisations in Nigeria, was speaking to his congregation during their 2026 thanksgiving service when he referenced Joshua’s survival as a manifestation of God’s mercy.

The revered pastor referenced a newspaper article which revealed that Joshua initially sat in the front passenger seat before moving to the seat behind the driver, a seating position which effectively saved his. He preached that God’s mercy ensured that the ghastly crash had survivors, implying that said mercy kept Joshua alive.

‘I read in the newspaper, that that our boxing champion [Anthony Joshua] exchanged seats just before the accident,’ he said. “The fellow he exchanged seats died. 

“Why was the seat exchanged? I don't know. But mercy says somebody will still be alive today and in the split of a second, a decision was taken, unknown to either of the two: ‘you are going, you are still going to be around.’ I am alive today because of the mercy of the Lord. I don't know about you.”

As Pulse Sports reported, the 47-year-old driver of the vehicle, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged in a Sagamu magistrate court with four charges, including causing death by dangerous driving.

His lawyer explained that contrary to the FRSC’s report, his client was driving within the speed limit (70 km/h) and that the accident was a result of brake failure. He then revealed that Joshua was initially seated in the front seat before the driver asked him to swap because his frame prevented him from monitoring the side mirror.

’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 did not work,” he said, per the Guardian.

‘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. From what I understand, Anthony was in front and then changed seats with Latif.”

The deceased, Kevin Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, whose remains have been transported to the UK, were both seated on the passenger side of the Lexus SUV, the side of impact of the crash which immediately claimed their lives.