*Suspect bailed with N1 million
*Allow court proceedings to be fully exhausted, CP tells Nigerians, family
Friends and family of Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Bumpa Adetunji Opayele known as TeeJay are calling on President Bola Tinubu and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to prosecute one Ms Biola Adams-Odutayo, who was charged for traffic contravention instead of Manslaughter by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Opayele was killed by Ms Adams-Odutayo who was said to be driving one-way on March 4, when Teejay was biking his way home from a gym in Victoria Island, Lagos, around 10:20.p.m.
Opaleye became the second top personalities riding a bicycle to have been murdered by reckless motorists after co-founder and Deputy Managing Director of VETIVA, one of Nigeria’s leading Capital Management firms, Olaolu Mudashiru was killed while riding a bicycle in Lagos in 2022.
It was said that Ms Adams-Odutayo and her friend had just left a restaurant by the expressway where they had dinner and smashed Teejay into unconsciousness.
Tragically, when she hit him, she tried to flee the scene, but passersby prevented her from escaping.
With Teejay lying in critical condition, drenched in his blood, Adams-Odutayo refused to step out of her car to assess the damage or render any help.
It was said that she sat in her car, pressing her phone and making calls.
It was claimed that when her friends finally responded to the crowd asking her to take him to the hospital, they said she could not attend to him because she didn’t want blood stains in her car.
The good Samaritans were said to get an Uber, and took him to a nearby clinic, but he was rejected.
While the people were trying to help save the life of Teejay, Adams-Odutayo who was said to be moving in a convoy of two cars, was said to have called a towing van to tow her car away from the scene.
Teejay was rejected and they had to return to the accident scene, used a Korope, and forced Adams-Odutayo to enter the bus so that the hospitals would admit Teejay, an hour after the incident.
Unfortunately, Teejay gave up the ghost at midnight and Adams-Odutayo tried to flee but she was arrested.
It was alleged that she kept boasting that nothing would happen to her because her family had connections.
Adams-Odutayo was released almost immediately. Instead of police charging her with manslaughter, Adams-Odutayo was charged with Traffic Violations.
According to the court document sighted by The Guardian, a sum of N1 million and two sureties was set as the bail for Adams-Odutayo, which she met immediately.
The count reads: “That you Abiola Odutayo on the 4th day of March 2025 at 1004 Housing Estate entrance gate traffic light junction along Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, being the driver in charge of one Ford Edge Jeep with Registration No. LND 418 JR drove same on the public highway in an inconsiderable manner without due care and attention to other persons) using the highway and thereby committed an offence under Section 50(1) of Road traffic Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2018.
“That you, Ablola Odutayo on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, being the driver in charge of one Ford Edge Jeep with Registration No. LND 418 JR drove same in the public highway recklessly and carelessly without due care and attention to other road users and caused the death of one Tunji Opaleye, aged 32 years, and thereby committed an offence under Section 52 of the Road Traffic Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2018.
The family demanded proof that Adams-Odutayo was still in Lagos State as she was summoned to the police station on Monday, March 17, 2025, but she failed to show up.
They demanded that Adams-Odutayo must be properly charged with manslaughter also, not just a lesser offence of reckless driving.
Reacting, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh urged Nigerians to allow the judiciary process to be exhausted over the murder of Teejay.
on behalf of the entire officers and personnel of the command, commiserates with the family and loved ones of Mr Tunji Opayele over the unfortunate accident that led to his untimely death.
Reacting, the Command said: “It is while in this sad mood that the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public both home and abroad that the defendant in the case of this fatal accident, Abiola Odutayo ‘f’, after the conclusion of a discreet and thorough investigation into the case, was properly charged to a court of competent jurisdiction on a two-count charge bordering on the death of the deceased.
“It is a statutory procedure that police actions terminate where cases are charged to court. Lagosians and members of the public are implored to allow the court processes and proceedings to be fully exhausted in accordance with the laws of the land. Everyone is enjoined to allow justice to be served in this matter, please.”
