A petition demanding justice for Adetunji ‘TeeJay’ Opayele, Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Nigerian retail automation startup Bumpa, has garnered over 20,000 signatures on Change.org.
The petition, addressed to the Lagos State Government, seeks a manslaughter charge against the driver allegedly responsible for his death.
According to Techpoint Africa, Opayele died on March 5, 2025, following a road accident. The petition, initiated by a group called ‘TeeJay Legacy,’ alleges that the incident occurred on March 4 when Opayele, returning from the gym, was riding his power bike along Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, at around 10:20 p.m.
The petition states that Biola Adams-Odutayo, who was driving a vehicle with license plate LND 418 JR, merged onto the expressway without yielding to oncoming traffic, resulting in a collision with Opayele. Despite wearing full safety gear, he was knocked unconscious.
Eyewitnesses claim Adams-Odutayo refused to step out of her car to check on the victim. According to the petition, when urged to help, her friend reportedly responded, “She doesn’t want blood to stain her car.” Additionally, Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional, allegedly remained on a phone call for over 30 minutes rather than assisting the injured victim.
Efforts to get Opayele medical attention were met with delays, as some hospitals reportedly refused treatment. He was eventually admitted but was pronounced dead in the early hours of March 5. Meanwhile, Adams-Odutayo allegedly walked into the same hospital requesting medical attention for herself, claiming to be in shock, before attempting to leave.
The petition further accuses Adams-Odutayo and her family of leveraging influence to evade justice. Despite calls for a stricter charge, she was reportedly detained for only one night, granted bail at ₦1 million, and charged with reckless driving rather than manslaughter.
Supporters of the petition are urging government officials, including the Governor of Osun State, to intervene. Bumpa Co-founder Kelvin Umechukwu reaffirmed the commitment to preserving Opayele’s legacy, stating, “Though his presence will be missed, we commit to keeping Teejay’s legacy alive.”
