Associates of Biola Adams-Odutayo, the lady alleged to have killed biker and tech expert, Adetunji Opayele have reacted to the narrative being circulated about the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.
In a statement sent to www.theoctopusnews.com, they claim that there has been a misplacement of facts in online media, especially in the area of painting Adams-Odutayo as being negligent and indifferent about the death of the deceased.
The statement claims that the event of the night of March 4th is one of unimaginable shock and pain for Adams-Odutayo, insisting that she did everything possible to save the victim, Opayele, despite being physically and emotionally overwhelmed.
Furthermore, the statement claimed that Adams-Odutayo is still very traumatised and very heartbroken.
Addressing alleged glaring falsehoods in accounts of the incident being peddled on social media, associates of Adams-Odutayo gave a different perspective of what transpired leading to the accident, the immediate and later actions arising from it.
In their account, Adams-Odutayo was driving home after dropping off a friend at Cactus Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, when the tragedy occurred.
Further, they claimed that the traffic light was green, granting her the right of way, adding that she checked both sides of the road before moving onto Ozumba Mbadiwe Road as she was heading towards Lekki.
According to their account, on moving into Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Adams-Odutayo heard a loud bang, as her car was rocked from a massive impact, deploying her airbags and literarily setting her body and clothes on fire. They noted that the impact came from a power bike ridden by the late Adetunji Opayele, which had collided with her vehicle.
The statement claimed that Adams-Odutayo 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.
Adams-Odutayo’s associates maintain that upon her emerging from her car, she was harassed, and intimidated, but quickly realising what had just occurred, her primary concern was to save the rider of the bike whom she was later to know as Opayele, who was lying on the road motionless, having been thrown off his bike from the impact of the collision.
They noted that despite her injuries, she immediately called a fellow doctor friend for guidance, and Opaleye was taken to the nearby Coptic Hospital, but the street urchins refused to let Adams-Odutayo accompany the victim because they wanted to prevent her from any alleged attempt to get rid of the body if she had gone with it.
The associates of the doctor narrated that a friend, a passerby, a good Samaritan Uber driver and Adams-Odutayo’s driver eventually rushed Opayele to the hospital after Adams-Odutayo had transferred money for his treatment immediately when they asked, as her only goal was to save the victim’s life.
They acknowledged that Opayele was taken to three hospitals, but he was pronounced dead at the last one where Adams-Odutayo was able to join them at the last hospital after being released by the street urchins who were now convinced that she was doing her best to save Opayele’s life, despite her visible trauma.
Highlighting other efforts made by Adams-Odutayo, her associates disclosed that after Opayele had been pronounced dead, the matter was reported to the police voluntarily and at the instance of Adams-Odutayo, where she was detained for over 48 hours.
They further highlighted that this was how the police got involved, thrashing the widely told narrative of Adams-Odutayo trying to escape.
They maintain that Adams-Odutayo’s health had significantly deteriorated, requiring sedation and hospitalisation for more than two weeks, while her car which was severely damaged had to be towed, dismissing claims that she refused to transport the deceased in it due to the possibility of blood-staining it.
Adams-Odutayo associates noted that observing where the accident occurred, suggests that the bike rammed into her car and not vice versa. In their opinion, Adams-Odutayo is also a victim, adding that her family had visited Opayele’s grieving family twice to offer condolences.
According to Adams-Odutayo’s friends, since the incident, she 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.
They say this has compounded her trauma, adding that those who were not at the accident scene, based on hearsay, have now become the accusers, judge and jury rolled in one. They maintain that as the case is now in court, the truth will hopefully prevail.
They insist that despite what has been reported online, Adams-Odutayo had been charged on two counts including manslaughter and is only out on bail which is at the discretion of the court.
Also, they ask 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, arguing 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 judgment on social media platforms.
The associates of Adams-Odutayo prayed that the soul of Opayele, no doubt an exemplary son, brother and entrepreneur, a pride to Nigeria, rest in peace and that the Lord gives his family, friends and associates, the fortitude to bear the loss.
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