Over 20,000 sign petition seeking justice for Bumpa co-founder

• Published On: 29 March 2025 at 16:46

Over 20,000 people have signed a Change.org petition demanding justice for Adetunji 'TeeJay' Opayele, Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Nigerian retail automation startup Bumpa.

The petition, addressed to the Lagos State Government, seeks a manslaughter charge against the driver who allegedly caused his death.

According to Techpoint Africa, Opayele died on March 5, 2025, as a result of a traffic accident. The petition, started by a group called 'TeeJay Legacy,' claims that the incident happened on March 4 when Opayele was riding his power bike along Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos, around 10:20 p.m. on his way home from the gym.

According to the petition, Biola Adams-Odutayo, driving a vehicle with the license plate LND 418 JR, merged onto the motorway without yielding to oncoming traffic, causing a collision with Opayele. Despite wearing full safety gear, he was rendered unconscious.

According to eyewitnesses, Adams-Odutayo refused to step out of her car to check on the victim. According to the petition, when asked to help, her friend reportedly said, "She doesn't want blood to stain her car." Furthermore, Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional, allegedly remained on the phone for more than 30 minutes instead of assisting the injured victim.

Efforts to get Opayele medical attention were delayed because some hospitals reportedly refused to treat him. He was eventually admitted, but was declared dead in the early hours of March 5. Meanwhile, Adams-Odutayo allegedly entered the same hospital and requested medical attention for herself, claiming to be in shock before attempting to leave.

The petition also accuses Adams-Odutayo and her family of using their influence to avoid justice. Despite calls for stricter charges, she was only detained for one night, granted bail of ₦1 million, and charged with reckless driving rather than manslaughter.

Supporters of the petition are urging government officials, including Osun State Governor, to intervene. Bumpa Co-founder Kelvin Umechukwu reaffirmed the company's dedication to preserving Opayele's legacy, saying, "Though his presence will be missed, we are committed to keeping Teejay's legacy alive."