The trial of Abiola Adams-Odutayo, the woman whose car hit and killed Adetunji Opayele, the co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of Bumpa, on March 4, has been adjourned until February 25, 2026.
Adewale Opayele, the elder brother of the deceased, disclosed this to FIJ on Thursday.
“The matter came up today before Magistrate Owumi sitting at the Magistrates’ Court, Tinubu, Lagos Island, for continuation of trial. The court was informed that the prosecutor was bereaved and sought a further date for the continuation of the trial. Consequently, the matter was adjourned to February 25, 2026, for continuation of the trial,” he said.
Opayele would have turned 33 on December 20. He died on March 4 when Adams-Odutayo drove recklessly on the expressway in Victoria Island without checking oncoming traffic.
Her vehicle collided with Opayele, who was riding his power bike and returning from i-Fitness Gym in Lekki. The impact of the crash left him unconscious and sprawled on the road.
FIJ understands that the case instituted against Adams-Odutayo has seen only four sittings, several adjournments and the absence of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in court.
The police arraigned her at a Lagos magistrate’s court on March 12, when the matter was first heard. She was charged with reckless and careless driving as well as causing Opayele’s death.
The court granted her a N1 million bail with two sureties, and because she met the bail conditions, she was released the same day. The court then adjourned the matter for April 16.
Opayele’s family petitioned the police and the Lagos government for a proper investigation into his death in April. They also wanted the police to charge Adams-Odutayo with manslaughter instead of reckless driving.
The perceived undue influence in the handling of the case also led to a public outcry, and the loved ones of the deceased launched a petition on Change.org. They maintained that the defendant should be charged with manslaughter and the case should not be heard in a magistrate’s court.
Adewale Opayele, the elder brother of the late Adetunji, told FIJ that when the matter came up at the Magistrate Court on April 16, a new date of May 29 was fixed pending the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s advice.
“On May 29, the DPP’s advice was available, and the case was transferred from the previous prosecuting officer to a new State Prosecutor. The advice did not recommend a charge of manslaughter but instead retained the charge of reckless driving. The new charge was read in court, and the defendant pleaded not guilty. Defence counsel appealed for the continuation of bail on the existing terms, which the court granted. The case was then adjourned to July 9 for hearing,” Adewale said.
FIJ is aware that Section 52 of the Lagos Transport Law, under which Adams-Odutayo was charged in court, recommends a seven-year imprisonment sentence for a convicted person.
When July 9 came, the IPO was absent from court, so the trial could not commence. The matter was adjourned for August 20, but the court did not sit on this new date because the state government had declared that day a public holiday to mark Isese Day.
The matter was adjourned again until October 8. Just like the previous scheduled date, the IPO was absent on this day as well. But the trial commenced with the testimony of a prosecution witness, after which the matter was adjourned to December 18.
The deceased’s brother had earlier told FIJ that Thursday’s hearing might be adjourned, as the state prosecutor is expected to attend to some funeral rites and may request a new date.
He would later confirm to FIJ on Thursday afternoon that the matter had been adjourned until February 2026.
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