Biola Adams-Odutayo, a Lagos resident, has been charged with reckless driving leading to the tragic death of Adetunji Opaleye, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of the tech startup Bumpa.
Adams-Odutayo, who was driving a Ford Edge SUV, reportedly crashed into Opaleye at around 10:20 p.m. on March 4th at the 1004 Housing Estate entrance on Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The Lagos State High Court in Tinubu has now arraigned Adams-Odutayo on two counts, with the charges carrying a potential seven-year prison sentence if convicted.
According to the police, she is accused of driving “in an inconsiderable manner without due care and attention to other persons using the highway,” and of causing Opaleye’s death due to her reckless driving.
A statement from the police revealed that the incident occurred when Adams-Odutayo failed to check for oncoming traffic as she entered the expressway.
The first charge claims that her actions violated Section 50(1) of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State, 2018, which criminalizes reckless or dangerous driving. The second charge, under Section 52, directly links her actions to Opaleye’s death.
“If convicted, Adams-Odutayo faces penalties of up to seven years in prison,” said Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ben Hundeyin.
Opaleye, a 32-year-old software engineer and a passionate advocate for tech startups, had co-founded Bumpa, a company that automates retail operations for small businesses.
Prior to this, he had worked in software development in both Nigeria and the United States. His death has left a significant impact on the tech community.
The aftermath of the crash was marred by accusations of neglect. Witnesses claimed that Adams-Odutayo, a healthcare professional, refused to assist Opaleye, allegedly avoiding contact due to concerns over “blood staining her car.”
Witnesses struggled to find help for Opaleye, with multiple vehicles refusing to stop. It was only after much persistence that an Uber driver agreed to transport Opaleye to a hospital, but tragically, he was denied treatment at two different hospitals before being pronounced dead at midnight.
Opaleye’s life was cut short, leaving behind a legacy of tech innovation. “He was a visionary who sought to make a difference,” said a close colleague.