Paystack co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, says he was unfairly dismissed from the company following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Olubi disclosed this in a blog post published on Saturday, November 23, 2025, noting that his termination came while an internal investigation was still in progress.
The controversy began in mid-November after a social media user accused Olubi of abusive behaviour, a claim that quickly went viral. The online backlash also led people to resurface explicit tweets he had posted between 2009 and 2013, resulting in widespread criticism.
In response to the unrest, Paystack announced that Olubi had been suspended pending a formal review, adding that an independent investigator would be appointed to lead the process.
However, in his blog post titled “Terminated,” Olubi stated that he was fired without being granted a chance to defend himself.
“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,” he wrote.
He explained that once the board initiated what it described as an independent investigation, he chose to remain silent to avoid influencing the process.
“I expected a fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online,” he said.
Olubi claimed that his contract was terminated without any meeting or opportunity to present his side of the story, adding that the company’s action appeared to violate the terms of his suspension as well as internal policies.
He also suggested that his silence during the investigation allowed “assumptions and misrepresentations to spread without challenge.”
Olubi distanced himself from the resurfaced tweets, insisting they do not represent his behaviour or values.
“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 that his legal team would be exploring possible next steps.
The allegations resurfaced after an individual with whom he previously had a relationship made personal accusations online.
This triggered renewed attention to several explicit tweets from 2009–2013, including some containing sexually suggestive remarks about colleagues and minors. Olubi has since deactivated his X account.
Founded in 2015 by Olubi and Shola Akinlade, Paystack has grown into one of Africa’s leading payment companies. It was the first Nigerian startup accepted into Y Combinator in 2016 and was acquired by Stripe in 2020 for over $200 million.
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