Paystack Co-founder Alleges Unfair Termination
Ezra Olubi, co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Nigerian fintech company Paystack, has publicly claimed that the company unfairly dismissed him while a formal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations was still ongoing. The executive made these allegations in a detailed blog post published on Sunday, 23 November 2025, where he stated he was terminated without being given any opportunity to respond to the accusations against him.
The Social Media Controversy
The controversy began in mid-November 2025 when a social media user, who identified as having been in a previous relationship with Mr Olubi, posted personal complaints online. This initial post triggered widespread reactions across social media platforms, leading internet users to uncover and circulate a series of explicit tweets that Olubi had authored between 2009 and 2013.
Many of these resurfaced tweets contained sexualized comments that referenced colleagues and minors, attracting widespread condemnation from the online community. The situation escalated to the point where Mr Olubi deactivated his X account in response to the growing backlash.
Company Response and Investigation
Following the initial allegations, Paystack confirmed that it had suspended Mr Olubi and commenced an internal review. In a statement provided to TechCabal at the time, the company stated: "Paystack is aware of the allegations involving our Co-founder, Ezra Olubi. We take matters of this nature extremely seriously. Effective immediately, Ezra has been suspended from all duties and responsibilities pending the outcome of a formal investigation."
The company further noted that it would refrain from additional comments "out of respect for the individuals involved and to protect the integrity of the process." This position maintained until Olubi's termination.
Olubi's Defense and Allegations
In his blog post titled "Terminated," Mr Olubi argued that the company acted prematurely by dismissing him before the investigation concluded. He wrote: "Over the past few days, my name and reputation, built over years as co-founder and technical leader at Paystack, have been called into question because of information circulating online."
The former CTO explained that he remained silent once the board initiated what it described as an "independent" investigation, doing so to avoid interfering with the process. He expressed expectation of a "fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online."
Mr Olubi stated that he was dismissed without any procedural fairness, claiming: "I was not given a meeting or an opportunity to respond before my contract was ended." He argued that this termination appeared to contravene both the terms of his suspension and the company's internal policies.
Addressing the resurfaced tweets directly, Olubi insisted they did not reflect his actual behavior or character. "Those who know me personally or professionally understand that the posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life. I have always conducted myself in a manner that respects everyone's dignity and safety," he wrote.
He concluded by noting that his legal team would "explore possible steps in response" to his dismissal.
Background and Significance
Paystack, founded in 2015 by Mr Olubi and Shola Akinlade, represents one of Nigeria's most successful tech startup stories. The company became the first Nigerian startup accepted into the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator program in 2016. In 2020, global payments giant Stripe acquired Paystack in a landmark deal valued at more than $200 million.
Mr Olubi's professional achievements include receiving the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) from former President Muhammadu Buhari. He was among 450 awardees that year, bringing the total number of national honours recipients since 1963 to 5,341.
The dispute between Mr Olubi and Paystack remains unresolved as of late November 2025. The company has yet to issue any further comment since the termination, and the outcome of the formal investigation remains unknown to the public.
