₦airaland Forum

Eaglecrwn:
As lawyers to Ms. Abiola Odutayo ("Our Client", our attention has been drawn to an online petition and several other questionable postings on social media regarding the unfortunate fatal accident involving Mr Tunji Opayele (the deceased) and our Client.

While we understand the emotional response that this incident has generated, it is concerning that persons who were not present at the scene of the accident or versed with the actual facts are peddling false narratives on the internet seemingly with the main aim of whipping up sentiments and maligning the character of the other victim of the unfortunate accident.

It has therefore become imperative for us to state the facts of what transpired without offending the principle of subjudice since the matter is now pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.

On March 4, 2025, Ms. Abiola Odutayo was driving home after dropping off a friend at Cactus Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos, when the tragedy occurred.

According to preliminary investigations, she moved when the traffic light was green, granting her the right of way and having checked both sides before moving onto Ozumba Mbadiwe Road.

As she made her way 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. A disconcerted Biola managed to emerge from her car through the driver’s door which had been severely damaged and hanging open.

A mob of street urchins immediately surrounded her, harassing and intimidating her while in excruciating pain. Upon coming to consciousness of what has happened, our client’s primary concern was to save whom she was later to know as Mr. Tunji Mr. Opayele lying on the road motionless, having been thrown off his bike from the impact of the collision.

Despite her injuries, Ms. Odutayo immediately called a fellow doctor friend for guidance, (though she was so traumatised that she later forgot making the call). She was advised to take the victim to the nearby Coptic Hospital, but the street urchins won’t let her accompany Mr Opaleye because they wanted to prevent any purported attempt to get rid of the body if she had gone with it.

Luckily, a friend, a passerby, a good Samaritan Uber driver and our client’s driver teamed up to rush Mr Opayele to the hospital at her instruction. Not leaving anything to chance, she went ahead to transfer money for his treatment.

Subsequently, three hospitals were visited, but Mr. Opayele was pronounced dead at the last one where our client joined them after the street urchins who hitherto held her captive, allowed her to join the emergency party apparently convinced that she was doing her best to save Mr Opayele’s life despite her own visible trauma.
From what we also gathered, following the confirmation of Mr. Opayele’s death, Ms. Odutayo offered herself up for detention at the police station for over 48 hours.

While in the cell, her health deteriorated significantly, requiring sedation and hospitalisation for over two weeks. Her severely-damaged car had to be towed from the spot of the accident.

Reports from those who saw the car say the point of impact clearly indicates that the bike rammed into her car not the other way around.

Our client, apart from also being a victim in the accident, has faced relentless cyber bullying, harassment, and physical threats.

Whilst it is regrettable that one of the victims died, it is most cruel to believe that commencing a campaign of calumny against the surviving victim will bring justice to the deceased. People have unjustly painted her as a monster, without examining the facts of the accident.

Contrary to what is being peddled on mainstream and social media, our client has been charged on two counts including manslaughter and is only out on bail which is at the discretion of the court. The current state of social media bullying, cyber-stalking, harassment and intimidation also does not aid the course of justice.

We urge all commentators to refrain from putting out narratives on social media that inflame cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking, harassment and intimidation but does not aid the course of justice.

It is also important to point out that the officers and officials of government who are saddled with responsibilities to do one thing or the other in respect of the matter be allowed to be guided by the principles of law and good conscience. Let everyone allow the courts to make their decisions based on concrete evidence.

Signed
Olukayode Enitan, SAN
Enitan Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators
The Blue
10A, CMD/Jubilee Road,
Magodo GRA,
Lagos State.

greggng:
I believe the story from.this lawyer

greggng:
I believe the story from.this lawyer

Babinski:
A case that is in court and the lawyer is making a statement as follows:

Reports from those who saw the car say the point of impact clearly indicates that the bike rammed into her car not the other way around.

I don't believe the lawyer. He carefully avoided commenting on the allegation that the lady didn't want blood to stain her car. Secondly, how was it that a good Samaritan Uber guy was the one that eventually took the victim to hospital? What about the lady's own car that was said to have been driven behind her by her driver?
And the claim hhat the collision deployed airbags and set the lady on fire? Very ridiculous.

Finally, under what conditions will airbags deploy from motorbike hitting a car? Airbags typically deploy from head on collisions or hard rear collisions. Can we see a picture of the car at the accident scene to confirm instead of the purported report of witnesses that the lawyer claimed indicted the motorbike for the collision?

greggng:
Hear say doesn't stand in court

Babinski:
Yes. And a lawyer knows that. But he is volunteering such statement to influence public opinion and convey that his client is innocent.