Paystack, the Stripe-owned Nigerian payments company, has suspended its Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate.
The controversy erupted on social media on Wednesday after an individual who previously had a personal relationship with Olubi shared troubling accounts online. The post triggered renewed scrutiny of several disturbing tweets Olubi made between 2009 and 2013, many of which contained sexually suggestive remarks involving colleagues and minors.
The resurfaced tweets sparked widespread outrage, leading to intense public discussions about accountability, professional conduct, and the long-term consequences of online behavior. Shortly after the backlash grew, Olubi deactivated his X account.
Some of the highlighted tweets drew severe criticism, including one that read: “I judge my female friends by the sound their pee makes. Thanks to the audio in my bathroom,” and another that stated: “Save water. Take a bath with your neighbour’s daughter.”
A May 23, 2011 tweet added further concern: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”
According to a statement reported on Friday, Paystack confirmed it has begun a formal investigation into the matter.
“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 said in its confirmation to Hobnob News.
The company also noted that no further comments would be provided until the process is complete.
“Out of respect for the individuals involved and to protect the integrity of the process, we will not be commenting further until the investigation is complete,” the firm added.
Founded in 2015 by Ezra Olubi and Shola Akinlade, Paystack is a leading fintech company offering online and offline payment infrastructure for businesses across Africa. The company became the first Nigerian startup to join the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator in 2016 and has since expanded to serve tens of thousands of merchants.
In 2020, Paystack was acquired by global payments giant Stripe for over US$200 million, marking one of Nigeria’s biggest fintech acquisitions. As CTO, Olubi played a central role in developing the company’s technological backbone and supporting its growth across multiple African markets.
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