Paystack fires Ezra Olubi amid sexual misconduct allegations

Paystack, one of Africa’s leading technology companies, has fired its co-founder and chief technology officer, Ezra Olubi, following allegations of sexual misconduct. The termination comes nearly two weeks after Olubi was suspended pending an internal investigation.

The suspension followed claims on social media alleging inappropriate conduct toward a subordinate. The accusations revived attention to a series of Olubi’s past tweets, which contained sexually explicit remarks about colleagues and minors, sparking widespread scrutiny.

Olubi speaks out on termination

Olubi responded publicly in a blog post on Saturday, Nov. 23, saying the company ended his contract before the investigation was complete.

“I was not given a meeting or an opportunity to respond before my employment was terminated,” Olubi wrote. “The process appears inconsistent with Paystack’s internal policies, which I helped establish.” He added that his legal team would review possible actions in response to the termination.

Paystack has not issued a new public statement since Olubi’s post. Stripe, which acquired Paystack for $200 million in 2020, has also not commented, and legal proceedings could result in additional disclosures that clarify both the allegations and the company’s handling of the case.

The recent development has intensified discussions around workplace accountability in Africa’s tech sector. Paystack confirmed in an earlier statement that it was conducting a formal review.

“We take matters of this nature seriously,” the company said. “Effective immediately, Ezra has been suspended from all duties and responsibilities pending the outcome of a formal investigation. Out of respect for the individuals involved and to protect the integrity of the process, we will not comment further until the investigation is complete.”

African startup reviews internal governance measures

Founded in 2015 by Olubi and Shola Akinlade, Paystack became one of Y Combinator’s first African-backed startups and later joined Stripe. The platform supports thousands of businesses across the continent, making internal governance and staff safety a key concern for employees, customers, and regulators.

Ezra Olubi, a software engineer known for his advocacy on LGBTQ rights, rose to the top in Nigeria’s tech community for his work ethic and unconventional approach. The renewed attention on his past social media posts has put pressure on Paystack to clarify workplace policies and ensure staff feel safe reporting concerns.