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Anthony Joshua recalls tragic deaths of friends in auto crash

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By Francesca Hangeior

A former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has recounted the tragic deaths of two of his close friends following a fatal car crash in an emotional conversation with UFC star, Kamaru Usman.

The conversation, shared in a YouTube video posted by Usman on Wednesday, took place while Joshua was recovering from injuries sustained in the accident and ahead of an MMA event held in Lagos on December 30.

Joshua survived a crash on December 29 along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, which claimed the lives of his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

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The boxer was pulled from the wreckage and rushed to Duchess International Hospital, where he received medical treatment.

Footage from the video showed Joshua lying in a treatment room with bandages wrapped around his head and torso, as he spoke to Usman about the tragedy. He admitted that the reality of the loss had not yet fully registered.

Following his discharge from the hospital, Joshua has since returned to the United Kingdom.

During the conversation, Usman, a former UFC welterweight champion, asked whether Ghami and Ayodele had been seated in the front of the black Lexus at the time of the crash.

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Joshua replied, “One was in the front and one was behind him, on the right side. They both passed away. It still hasn’t sunk in. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”

“I’m sorry for that, man. You scared the world, I’ll tell you that right now,” Usman responded.

“Life is short, man. Life is short. And now look, I get to speak with you for the first time,” Joshua said.

“I know. It’s a funny way of how things move, you know? We thank God,” Usman replied.

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“You scared the world. It’s crazy because, obviously, we deal with the haters and all the bull**** every time, and it sucks that it takes something serious like this to really see how many people have their eyes on you,” Usman added.

PUNCH Online reported on Sunday that Joshua broke his silence with a post across his social media platforms, sharing a photograph of himself with the families of the deceased.

He captioned the image, “My Brother’s Keeper.”
The photograph shows the former heavyweight champion standing in solidarity with the bereaved families, offering visible support during a moment of grief.

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Veteran Nollywood Actor Dies In His Sleep

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Veteran Nollywood actor and producer Solomon Akiyesi has died.

His death was confirmed on Monday by the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Abubakar Yakubu.

Yakubu said the actor passed away in his sleep on Sunday, adding that his remains have been deposited in a morgue in Abuja.

“Yes, it is true. He died yesterday. Slept and did not wake up from sleep. We await further details from the family. His body is in the morgue in Abuja, where the sad incident happened,” he said.

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According to him, the guild is still expecting more information from the deceased’s family regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.

Akiyesi, who hailed from Ososo in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, began his Nollywood career in the late 1990s and went on to feature in over 100 films.

He was known for roles in movies such as Marry Who You Love, Kiss My Pain, Joy of Nakasha, Heart of a Saint, Deadly Affair, Gen Z Wife, Olaedo The Fisher Girl, Pretty Liars, The End Is Near, and Desperate Ladies.

Akiyesi was born and raised in Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Edo State.

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He had his primary and secondary education in his hometown before enrolling at the University of Ibadan for his tertiary education.

An actor, producer, and director, Akiyesi starred in several significant films, including ‘Deadly Affair’ (1995), ‘Olaedo the Fisher Girl’ 2 (2015), ‘Gen Z Wife (2024), ‘Kiss My Pain’, ‘Heart of a Saint’, and others.

He served on the Board of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and was the President of the National Association of Ososo Creatives.

In April 2013, the actor’s wedding to his second wife, Uloma Agwu, was disrupted when his wife from his first marriage stormed the Overcomers Church World Outreach in Surulere, Lagos, claiming they were still legally married.

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The actor’s first wife, Lilian, pregnant and accompanied by friends, walked into the marriage ceremony immediately after the praise and worship session, as the minister was about to begin officiating.

It took the efforts of police officers to restore order within the church’s premises.

The late actor later apologised for the disruption to the wedding.

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“I Prefer Pets To Children” — BBNaija Star Phyna Replies Critics Over Decision To Be Childless

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Nigerian reality TV star and former Big Brother Naija winner, Phyna, has responded strongly to the backlash surrounding her decision not to have children.

Phyna had earlier sparked conversations online after stating that she would rather raise pets than become a biological mother, a comment that quickly drew criticism from social media users who questioned her stance.

Reacting to the wave of insults, the actress and influencer described the judgment as unfair and accused many Nigerians of holding outdated beliefs about womanhood and motherhood.

She expressed frustration over how people rushed to label her a failure simply because she chose not to have children, insisting that her decision is personal and rooted in her life experiences.

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According to her, her childhood played a major role in shaping how she views parenting, revealing that she is afraid of becoming the kind of parent she had while growing up.

Phyna explained that the fear of repeating painful patterns from her upbringing has made her unwilling to bring a child into the world unless she feels emotionally ready for that responsibility.

She said she would rather remain child-free than risk becoming a parent she herself would not have wanted.

“Dumb country people, so me not wanting a child is what makes me a failure and resulting to all this insults na… y’all brains is still stuck in the 60’s era,” she wrote.

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She added that many critics fail to understand the emotional reasons behind such decisions and simply judge based on societal expectations.

“Me wey dem born how them take care of me. I don’t want to bring a child in. I’m scared of becoming a parent like the one I had… and that’s on period,” she stated.

Her comments have since triggered mixed reactions online, with some people supporting her honesty and right to make personal life choices, while others insisted that motherhood remains an important part of womanhood.

The debate continues to generate strong opinions, especially around issues of parenting, trauma, and the pressure society places on women regarding marriage and childbirth.

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Former ‘Home Alone’ House Owner Found De@d Days After Arrest For Child P0rn

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A former owner of the iconic “Home Alone” home was found d£ad from a suspected su!cide at an Illinois nature preserve days after he was hit with child p0rnography charges.

John Abendshien’s body was discovered in the Lake Forest Open Lands: Derwen Mawr Nature Preserve in Lake Forest just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, NBC Chicago reported.

The 79-year-old was identified the next morning and “asphyxia in a manner consistent with being self-inflicted” was ruled the preliminary cause of d£ath, according to the outlet.

Police have opened an investigation into his d£ath.

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“This is believed to be an isolated incident with no threat to the community at this time,” the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.

Abendshien was the longtime owner of the famed house featured in the beloved 1990 Christmas film.

Abendshien had lived in the “Home Alone” house while the movie was being filmed.

He later released a memoir, “Home but Alone No More,” detailing life inside his home that was turned into the iconic Christmas movie backdrop.

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His family sold the five-bedroom home in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka back in 2012 for $1.585 million, according to Chicago Agent Magazine.

Earlier this month, the Lake County State Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into Abendshien over alleged child p0rnography possession.

Officials had received multiple cyber tips reporting an online account linked to Abendshien being used in the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child s£xual abuse material, officials said.

The Lake Forest Police Department executed a search warrant at his home on April 16 and seized electronic evidence.

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Abendshien was later charged with seven felonies: three counts of possession of child s£xual abuse material (Class 2 felony) and four counts of possession of child s£xual abuse material (Class 3 felony).

He was released with conditions after he attended a detention hearing on April 17.

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