Paystack suspends co-founder Ezra Olubi over sexual misconduct allegation

Nigerian payments company Paystack has suspended co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Ezra Olubi, following a sexual misconduct allegation involving a subordinate that began circulating on social media this week.

Paystack confirmed the suspension, stating that a formal internal investigation has been opened into the matter.

“Paystack is aware of the allegations involving our Co-founder, Ezra Olubi,” the company said in a statement.

“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 it would not comment further until the investigation is complete.
The allegation surfaced on Wednesday on social media and intensified after a Nigerian tech publication reported on dozens of Olubi’s decade-old social media posts.

The resurfaced tweets, reportedly posted between 2009 and 2013, contained sexually explicit comments, referenced wanting to photograph a coworker’s thighs, and included comments involving minors.

One 2011 tweet that resurfaced read: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”

Olubi has not publicly addressed the tweets or allegations of sexual misconduct. He also deactivated his X account on Wednesday, November 13, 2025.

Olubi co-founded Paystack in 2015 alongside CEO Shola Akinlade. The company became a centerpiece of African tech success when it was acquired by the U.S. payments giant Stripe in 2020 for a reported sum exceeding $200 million.

The controversy has sparked widespread discussion on social media about corporate accountability and the culture within the Nigerian tech ecosystem.