Paystack, the leading Nigerian fintech acquired by Stripe in 2020, has suspended its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Ezra Olubi, following serious sexual misconduct allegations involving a subordinate. The suspension comes after resurfaced social media posts from 2010–2017 revealed explicit and controversial content, generating widespread public scrutiny.

Olubi, 39, co-founded Paystack in 2015 with Shola Akinlade. The platform quickly became a pillar for online payments in Africa, processing billions in transactions and achieving a landmark $200 million acquisition by U.S.-based Stripe. As CTO, Olubi was instrumental in developing the company’s technical infrastructure, earning acclaim as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s tech sector. However, recent allegations and his past digital activity have cast a shadow over his professional achievements.

The controversy escalated in mid‑November 2025 when Olubi’s ex-partner, Max Obae, known online as Maki, publicly accused him of emotional abuse, misogyny, and sexual exploitation. Maki claimed that Olubi “pretended to be gay to lure feminists into his circle and slowly break them out through humiliating rituals,” describing a relationship marked by manipulation. She also detailed that their relationship ended via an email titled “Severance,” framing the breakup as business-like.

Following these accusations, social media users unearthed Olubi’s old posts from his X account, @0x. Tweets from 2010–2017 included sexually explicit and offensive content, with statements referencing minors, coworkers, and sexualized content. While some posts are over a decade old, their resurgence has fueled debates on accountability in tech and the potential relevance of historical behavior to current workplace conduct.

In response, Olubi deactivated his X account on November 13, 2025, shortly after the posts circulated widely. Paystack confirmed his immediate suspension on November 14, 2025, stating that it treats these issues “extremely seriously.” The company’s Board has initiated a formal review, appointing an independent third-party investigator to ensure the inquiry is conducted fairly, thoroughly, and with full confidentiality.

The allegations reportedly involve a subordinate, raising broader concerns about power dynamics and HR policies in Africa’s fast-growing startups. Olubi’s situation echoes other reckonings in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, including controversies at companies like Patricia and Bento. Hanu Fejiro, founder of Patricia, publicly called for Olubi’s arrest, labeling him a “paedophile and misogynist” while citing the archived tweets.

Paystack’s suspension of Olubi highlights the critical need for ethical standards and accountability in the tech sector. The story remains ongoing as the investigation proceeds, emphasizing the importance of transparent workplace policies and professional integrity in Africa’s emerging technology industry.