By Dickson Omobola

Friends of Dr Olaolu Mudashiru, better known as Dr Bob, son of a former Lagos State Military Administrator, Group Capt Gbolahan Mudashiru, retd, have expressed sadness over the lack of progress on apprehending the hit-and-run driver who caused his death.

On December 11, 2022, Dr Bob was killed in a hit-and-run accident while cycling with two other persons on Bourdillon Road in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State.

But after two years of the police’s inability to unravel the identity of his killer, his admirers have described it as painful, and called for justice.

Addressing newsmen at a memorial ride held in his honour, one of the accident’s survivors recounted that when it happened, he had no idea that Dr Bob had passed on, leaving him in shock.

Mr Bright Emmanuel, who is a member of the Pitstop Community, a cycling group to which Dr Bob belonged, said: “I only woke up 28 hours after the whole incident. I was not aware if it was a car or whatever. I was told when I was awake, and that was in the hospital. Even till he died, I was not aware.”

On inability of the police to unravel the identity of Dr Bob’s killer, he said: “It is so sad. It is painful. I do not know how the system in Nigeria works. In this case, I can’t say anything other than to tell God to take control. What has happened or is happening to such a personality is unfair. For two years now, there is no trace of the hit-and-run driver. Maybe little information about what has happened would have helped. He was the son of a former governor of Lagos State. I urge whoever is interested to let justice take its place.”

Also speaking, Dr Bob’s friend, Mr Ebiaho Emafo, added that the lack of updates showed the challenges in the Nigerian system.

Emafo said: “The fact that there is no investigative capacity to be able to investigate and find the perpetrators of the crime is a very sad one. In other clime, you typically find that within two years, even less than two years, you will be able to find the perpetrators of the crime. Although all efforts have been put towards trying to find the perpetrators; to date, nothing has been found. Nobody has been found. This is very sad for this country.”

On Dr Bob’s legacy, Emafo said he was able to encourage many people to come into cycling, adding that he was kind-natured and generous.

Meanwhile, Founder of Pitstop Lagos, Aminadab Adegboro, said the end of year criterium was dedicated to honouring Dr Bob.

Adegboro said: “Dr Bob was a key member of our community. As you know, Pitstop Community is close-knit. He was a patron dedicated to cycling. He was extremely disciplined with the sport. Unfortunately, he passed on in the most tragic way. It is a no-brainer for us to dedicate our end of year criterium to him. He was a lover of the sport and a key member of the Pitstop Community.”

Preye John Dede, who emerged first in the criterium got N2,000,000; Zakariyau Faruq got N1,500,000 for second position; Azeez Akande, who was third, got N1,200,000; Deinabobo Johnbull, fourth, got N1,000,000; Odebiyi Azeez received N800,000 for emerging fifth; the rest including Ibrahim Abidemi, Sosepriala Aggo, Bassey Ntui, Ayodele Dada and Henry Odumu, received between N100,000 each and N50,000 each.