‘Still very traumatised and very heartbroken’-those are the words used to describe Biola Adams- Odutayo regarding the traumatic events of March 4th, 2025.
Close sources to her who wish to remain anonymous, offered an account of the incident, to controvert the erroneous narrative especially of negligence and indifference levelled against her online.
According to them, the night was one of unimaginable shock and pain for her, insisting she did everything possible to save the victim, Adetunji Opayele, despite being physically and emotionally overwhelmed.
Addressing the glaring falsehoods in accounts of the incident being peddled on the social media, the sources gave a different perspective of what transpired leading to the accident, the immediate and later actions arising from it. In their account, Biola was driving home after dropping off a friend at Cactus Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, when the tragedy occurred.
Further discreet investigations claims that the traffic light was green, granting her the right of way and having checked both sides before moving onto Ozumba Mbadiwe Road as she was heading towards Lekki. The next thing she heard was a loud bang, as her car rocked from a massive impact, deploying her airbags and literarily setting her body and clothes on fire. The impact came from a power bike rode by Late Mr. Tunji Opayele, which had collided with her vehicle.
Severely dumbfounded and disoriented, they claim Biola managed to emerge from her car through the driver’s door which had been severely damaged and hanging open, only to be surrounded by a mob of street urchins. She was in excruciating pain, harassed, and intimidated. However, quickly realising what had just occurred, her primary concern was to save whom she was later to know as Mr. Tunji Mr. Opayele lying on the road motionless, having been been thrown off his bike from the impact of the collision.
Despite her injuries, Biola is recalled to have immediately called a fellow doctor friend for guidance, (though she was in such shock that she later forgot making the call). She was advised to take the victim to the nearby Coptic Hospital, but the street urchins refused to let her accompany Mr Opaleye because they wanted to prevent her from any alleged attempt to get rid of the body if she had gone with it.
Luckily for Biola, a friend, a passerby, a good Samaritan Uber driver and her driver were now on hand to rush Mr Opayele to the hospital at her instruction. She was able to transfer money for his treatment immediately when they asked, as her only goal was to save his life, said the source.
Subsequently, three hospitals were visited, but Mr. Opayele was pronounced dead at the last one at which Biola, was able to join them at the last hospital after the street urchins who had hitherto held her captive, allowed her to join the emergency party now convinced that she was doing her best to save Mr Opayele’s life despite her own visible trauma.
Going further, the sources disclosed after the confirmation of the death of Mr. Opayele, Biola’s driver at her instance, reported the matter at the police station voluntarily, where she was detained for over 48 hours. According to them this is how the police got involved, which is incongruous with the false narrative of her trying to escape. As a result, her health deteriorated significantly, requiring sedation and hospitalization for more than two weeks. Her car severely damaged had to be towed, dismissing claims that she refused to transport Mr. Opayele in it due to the possibility of blood-staining it.
The sources maintain that observing where the damage to the car occurred, it clearly suggests that the bike rammed into her car and not vice versa. In their opinion, Biola too is a victim, adding that her family had visited Mr. Opayele’s grieving family twice to offer condolences.
According to friends, since the incident, Biola has faced relentless cyberbullying, harassment, and physical threats. People have unjustly painted her as a monster, without examining the facts of the accident or deliberating peddling falsehoods. This has no doubt compounded her trauma, they said. It is sad that those who were not at the accident scene, based on hearsay, have now become the accusers, judge and jury rolled in one. The sources maintain that as the case is now in court, the truth will hopefully prevail.
Contrary to what is being peddled, Biola has been charged on two counts including manslaughter and is only out on bail which is at the discretion of the court. As due process in cases of this nature has been duly followed, they are asking those ‘baying for her blood and head’ to let legal justice take its course, and refrain from the unjustified cyber-lynching that is going on. They argued that people should be careful of one-sided stories, insisting that they need to listen and appraise themselves of the other side, before passing informed judgement on social media platforms.
These Friends of Biola, pray that the soul of Mr. Tunji Opayele, no doubt an exemplary son, brother & entrepreneur, a pride to our nation, rest in peace and that the Lord gives his family, friends and associates, the fortitude to bear the loss.
