Nigerian fintech company Paystack has made the dramatic decision to terminate the employment of its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following serious allegations of sexual misconduct that circulated online.
The Allegations and Immediate Fallout
The controversy erupted in November when social media users accused Olubi of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a junior staff member. The situation intensified as users began circulating explicit tweets the tech executive had posted more than a decade ago, which critics described as predatory in nature.
Paystack confirmed it had suspended Olubi and initiated a formal review process that included an independent investigator. The company, which was acquired by global payments giant Stripe in 2020, found itself under intense public scrutiny as screenshots of Olubi's old comments continued to spread across social media platforms.
Olubi's Response and Legal Threat
In a surprising turn of events, Olubi published a blog post on Saturday revealing that the company had terminated his employment before concluding its internal investigation. He claimed he was dismissed without being given the opportunity to present his side of the story or participate in a meeting to address the allegations.
The co-founder asserted that this decision violated the terms of his suspension and existing company procedures. He disclosed that his legal team is currently reviewing the process that led to his termination and will take appropriate steps based on their findings.
"My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies," Olubi wrote in his blog post. "They will take the steps they consider appropriate, and I will not be commenting further on this matter at this time."
Nigerian Public Reacts to the Controversy
The termination has sparked widespread reactions across Nigerian social media, with users expressing diverse opinions about the company's decision and the broader implications for Africa's rapidly growing tech sector.
Many commentators praised Paystack's decisive action, viewing it as a positive step toward accountability in the startup ecosystem. User @makispoke described it as "a sign of a mature company, and a positive act for the start up industry in Africa."
However, some observers questioned the timing and methodology of the termination. User @iam_ekjosh speculated: "He was fired BEFORE investigations were complete. What if this is deliberate to keep him? He can sue for wrongful termination and then be rehired and Paystack will say their hands were tied."
Other social media users expressed satisfaction with the outcome. @edoziay commented: "ezra is a clown, because his blog post makes it look like he was fired based off on rumors; as if we didn't see his tweets and see evidence of his misconduct."
The incident has reignited important conversations about workplace culture, accountability, and ethical standards within Africa's expanding technology industry. As one of Nigeria's most prominent fintech success stories, Paystack's handling of the situation is being closely watched by industry observers and stakeholders alike.
The case continues to develop, with potential legal action from Olubi's camp and ongoing discussions about the appropriate balance between individual rights and corporate responsibility in addressing misconduct allegations.
