Ezra Olubi, the co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Paystack, has publicly alleged that he was unfairly dismissed by the company. His claims, detailed in a blog post titled "Terminated" published on Sunday, 23 November 2025, assert that his termination occurred while a formal investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him was still underway and without him being granted an opportunity to respond to the accusations.

The controversy surrounding Mr. Olubi began in mid-November 2025. It was triggered by a social media user, identified as an individual who had previously been in a relationship with Mr. Olubi, posting personal complaints online. This initial post sparked widespread reactions, leading internet users to circulate a series of explicit tweets authored by Mr. Olubi between 2009 and 2013. Many of these historical tweets contained sexualized comments, some involving colleagues and minors, which attracted significant condemnation. Mr. Olubi has since deactivated his X account following the intense scrutiny.

In response to the initial allegations and the online uproar, Paystack confirmed that it had suspended Mr. Olubi and initiated an internal review. In a statement to TechCabal at the time, the company indicated, "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." Paystack also stated it would not comment further "out of respect for the individuals involved and to protect the integrity of the process." Max Obae, described as Mr. Olubi's former polycule partner, later revealed that he had completed the repayment of a $55,000 loan previously owed to Olubi, sharing a bank confirmation screenshot.

However, Mr. Olubi's blog post directly challenged Paystack's actions. He stated that his name and reputation had been called into question due to information circulating online. He explained that he chose to remain silent once the board initiated what it described as an an "independent" investigation, doing so "to avoid interfering with the investigation" and because he expected a "fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online." Despite this expectation, Mr. Olubi claimed he was dismissed without any chance to address the claims. "I was not given a meeting or an opportunity to respond before my contract was ended," he wrote, arguing that the termination "appeared to contravene the terms of [his] suspension and the company’s internal policies." He further added that the silence he maintained during the investigation allowed "assumptions and misrepresentations to spread without challenge."

Regarding the resurfaced tweets, Mr. Olubi insisted they were not reflective of his current behavior, though he did not deny writing them. He maintained, "Those who know me personally or professionally understand that the posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life. I have always… conducted myself in a manner that respects everyone’s dignity and safety." He concluded his statement by asserting that his legal team would "explore possible steps in response."

Adding another layer to the situation, Max Obae publicly praised Paystack after news of Olubi’s dismissal broke. Reacting to a report announcing the termination, Max described the decision as "a sign of a mature company, and a positive act for the start-up industry in Africa."

Paystack, a company co-founded in 2015 by Mr. Olubi and Shola Akinlade, achieved significant milestones, becoming the first Nigerian startup accepted into Y Combinator in 2016 and later acquired by Stripe in 2020 for over $200 million. Mr. Olubi was also awarded the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The dispute between Mr. Olubi and Paystack remains unresolved, with the company yet to issue any further comment since the termination. The formal investigation's outcome remains unknown, and Paystack has not publicly responded to Olubi's specific claims of unfair dismissal and denial of a chance to respond. This ongoing situation places heightened scrutiny on Paystack’s internal policies and the broader expectations of accountability within Nigeria’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.