Tech Community Demands Justice for Late Bumpa Co-founder

The tech community is rallying for justice following the shocking death of Adetunji ‘TeeJay’ Opayele, Co-founder and Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Nigerian retail automation startup Bumpa. A petition directed at the Lagos State Government has gathered over 20,000 signatures, demanding stricter legal action against the driver responsible for the fatal crash.

Opayele passed away on March 5, 2025, after suffering severe injuries in a road accident the previous night. According to the petition initiated by ‘TeeJay Legacy‘ on change.org, he was returning from the gym around 10:20 p.m. on March 4, riding his power bike along Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos, when a vehicle allegedly driven by Biola Adams-Odutayo struck him.

Eyewitness accounts claim Opayele had the right of way when Adams-Odutayo, reportedly leaving a restaurant, entered the expressway without checking for oncoming traffic, leading to the fatal collision. Despite wearing full safety gear, he was knocked unconscious and left lying on the road.

Eyewitness Accounts Spark Outrage

The petition alleges that Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional, refused to step out of her vehicle to assist Opayele. Witnesses claim she remained on a phone call for over 30 minutes while bystanders pleaded for her to help. When approached, her friend allegedly dismissed the situation, stating, “She doesn’t want blood to stain her car.”

Despite multiple hospitals initially refusing to treat him, Opayele was eventually admitted but succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of March 5. Adams-Odutayo later arrived at the same hospital, reportedly requesting a drip while claiming to be in shock before attempting to leave.

The outrage intensified as reports surfaced that she and her family allegedly leveraged their influence to downplay the incident, securing charges of reckless driving instead of manslaughter. She was granted bail for ₦1 million, which she paid almost immediately, spending just one night in detention.

A Call for Justice

The petitioners are calling on authorities to reconsider the charges and ensure that Adams-Odutayo faces trial for manslaughter. They urged elected officials, including the Governor of Osun State, to intervene in the case.

Bumpa Co-founder Kelvin Umechukwu reflected on Opayele’s impact, stating, “Though his presence will be missed, we commit to keeping Teejay’s legacy alive.”