The Lagos police command says it has arraigned Biola Adams-Odutayo in connection with the death of Adetunji Opayele, the co-founder of Bumpa, a fast-growing Nigerian tech startup.
Opayele, popularly known as Teejay, was killed in a road
accident on March 4 along Ozumba Mbadiwe road, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The 32-year-old software engineer was reportedly riding his
power bike when he was allegedly hit by a vehicle driven by Adams-Odutayo, a
healthcare professional working at an insurance brokering firm.
A petition demanding justice for Teejay and urging
authorities, including the inspector-general of police (IGP) and Lagos state
officials, to take immediate action, had been launched on Change.org.
In the petition, Adams-Odutayo, the driver, was said to have
allegedly refused to assist the injured Teejay after the crash over reported
concerns that her car would get stained.
The development elicited angry reactions as many Nigerians
are calling for the prosecution of the health professional.
In a post published via X on Saturday, Benjamin Hundeyin,
Lagos police spokesperson, disclosed that Adams-Odutayo had been granted bail
by the court.
Hundeyin said the case had been adjourned to April 16, 2025.
“We can confirm that following a thorough investigation,
Abiola Odutayo ‘f’ was arraigned in Court 1, Tinubu on March 12, 2025, after
she was discharged from hospital, for driving on a ‘public highway in a
reckless and careless manner without due care and attention to other road users
and caus[ing] the death of one Tunji Opayele ‘m’ aged 32 and thereby committed
an offence…’,” Hundeyin said.
“The court granted her bail and adjourned the case till
April 16, 2025. The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to
transparency, fairness, and justice.”