Nigerian fintech Paystack has terminated the employment of its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following public allegations of sexual misconduct involving a junior employee.
Olubi revealed the termination in a blog post on Saturday, November 23, 2025, noting that the decision was made before the company’s investigation was completed.
The controversy began in mid-November when a viral social media post accused Olubi of abusive behaviour. This prompted the circulation of old, explicit tweets dating from 2009 to 2013, some referencing sexualised content involving minors, bestiality, and sexually suggestive remarks toward colleagues. Following the resurfacing of the posts, Olubi deactivated his X account on November 13.
Paystack confirmed that it had suspended Olubi on November 14 and launched a formal investigation, appointing an independent law firm, Aluko & Oyebode, to oversee the review. However, in his blog post, Olubi argued that he was not given a chance to respond before his contract was ended.
“The decision appears to contravene the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s internal policies,” he said, adding that his legal team would explore appropriate steps in response.
In a statement reported by TechCabal, Paystack said Olubi’s termination was due to “significant negative reputational damage” linked to the resurfaced posts, and was taken independently of the ongoing workplace misconduct investigation.
The company emphasized that the action was within contractual rights and followed due process, adding that all financial entitlements had been settled.
“As a regulated company operating across multiple markets, we have a responsibility to act quickly when conduct could undermine trust,” the statement read. “This action is separate from the independent investigation into workplace misconduct, which is still ongoing.”
The incident has reignited discussions on workplace accountability in Africa’s fast-growing tech sector, where several companies have faced scrutiny over governance, culture, and misconduct allegations.
Paystack, which was acquired by Stripe in 2020, has not issued a fresh public statement following Olubi’s blog post.
It remains unclear whether Stripe will comment or if potential legal action by Olubi will lead to further disclosures.
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