Paystack has suspended its co-founder and CTO, Ezra Olubi, after an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate surfaced online on November 12, 2025.
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Paystack, the Stripe-owned Nigerian payments company, has suspended its co-founder and chief technology officer, Ezra Olubi, following an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. The allegation surfaced on social media on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, prompting the company to initiate a formal investigation.
In a statement to TechCabal, Paystack confirmed the suspension, noting that Olubi has been relieved of all duties pending the outcome of an internal review.
“Paystack is aware of the allegations involving our Co-founder, Ezra Olubi,” the company said. “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. 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 allegation triggered renewed attention to a series of explicit tweets posted by Olubi between 2009 and 2013. The posts contain sexual comments about colleagues, references to minors, and jokes about inappropriate behavior in workplace settings. Several screenshots circulated across X on Thursday, intensifying public scrutiny.
The resurfaced tweets which include references to erections during meetings, comments about photographing a colleague’s thighs, sexually suggestive remarks involving minors, and one post from May 2011 encouraging followers to “touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.” have widened the conversation around conduct and accountability in Africa’s tech ecosystem. Olubi deactivated his X account on Thursday, November 13, 2025, and has not publicly addressed either the allegations or the resurfaced tweets.
The incident comes at a time when the African tech industry continues to confront recurring questions about workplace culture and misconduct. In October, the CEO of Kenyan IT firm Pawa IT Solutions, Oscar Limoke, was fined by the Employment and Labour Relations Court following sexual harassment and assault complaints from a former staff member.
Paystack remains one of Africa’s most influential technology companies. Founded in 2015, it became a trailblazer in the fintech ecosystem after joining Y Combinator and later being acquired by Stripe for $200 million in 2020. The company’s leadership culture and governance practices are now under heightened scrutiny as stakeholders watch how the investigation unfolds.
Given its size, brand equity, and Stripe’s oversight, the company’s handling of the matter is expected to set a precedent for accountability in high-trust, venture-backed organisations. Paystack has emphasised that its internal review will be guided by its policies, values, and commitment to ensuring a safe work environment
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