UTHOLAB أُعيد تغريده
On March 4, 2025, Adetunji “Teejay” Opayele was hit in a road accident in Victoria Island, Lagos. He was a co-founder of Bumpa and a well-known figure in Nigeria’s tech space. That evening, he was riding his power bike home from the gym when a car, driven by Biola Adams-Odutayo, collided with him along Ozumba Mbadiwe Road. The impact left him badly injured on the road.
According to a petition, after the crash, Adams-Odutayo did not immediately step out of her vehicle to check on Opayele. It was further alleged that when bystanders approached her companion, she said she did not want blood to stain her car.
The petition also stated that while Opayele lay unconscious but still breathing, Adams-Odutayo, who is said to work in the healthcare sector, remained on a phone call for over 30 minutes rather than directly assisting or assessing the situation.
Opayele was reportedly taken to two different hospitals, but both refused to admit him. In an effort to save his life, bystanders returned to the accident scene, placed him in a minibus, and asked Adams-Odutayo to accompany them. It was claimed that she eventually followed, after initially resisting, and that she remained at the scene because bystanders prevented her from leaving.
Shortly afterwards, Opayele’s brother arrived at the scene and met a Samaritan who had been holding onto his belongings. They proceeded to the hospital where he had been taken, and upon arrival, he was confirmed dead in the early hours of March 5, 2025.
This delay has become one of the most criticised aspects of the case. Nigerian law requires hospitals to provide emergency care without delay, but this is not always consistently followed. Many observers believe that the delay in treatment made a serious injury worse and may have contributed to Teejay’s death, raising questions about whether he could have survived with faster medical attention within the “golden hour.”
Teejay's death quickly spread across social media and within Nigeria’s tech community. Many people expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Following the accident, the driver was charged with reckless and careless driving instead of manslaughter, a decision many Nigerians feel does not reflect the severity of the situation. Her release on bail on a sum of ₦1 million and two sureties, which she met on the same day, also caused further public concern, as it was seen by many as too lenient given the circumstances of the case.
From road safety lapses to delayed emergency response, from hospital negligence to contested legal proceedings, the death of Adetunji Opayele has come to symbolise more than a single loss and the tragedy of a life cut short. It is a stark reflection of institutions that, at critical moments, failed to protect one of their own. #HistoryVille #CrimeStories
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