Paystack has suspended its co-founder and chief technology officer, Ezra Olubi, after an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. The claim surfaced on social media on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. The company confirmed the suspension. However, it said the matter is still under formal investigation.
The allegation spread quickly across X. Soon after, several of Olubi’s old tweets resurfaced.
The posts date back to 2009–2013. Moreover, many of them contain explicit remarks about colleagues and comments involving minors.
Screenshots moved rapidly online. Consequently, the tweets triggered a strong wave of public criticism.
One of the resurfaced tweets, posted in 2011, read:
“Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”
Other posts mention erections during meetings and sexual jokes about staff. In addition, several tweets include references involving minors.
These posts remained visible for more than a decade. Still, they only gained attention after the allegation went viral.
Olubi has not addressed the allegation. Instead, he deactivated his X account on Thursday.
TechCabal reached out to him. However, he had not responded by the time of publication.
“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 added that it would not share more details. According to Paystack, this protects the integrity of the process and the people involved.
Paystack is one of Africa’s most influential tech companies. It joined Y Combinator in 2015. Later, in 2020, Stripe acquired it for $200 million. The company often serves as a model for culture and leadership in Nigeria’s startup scene. Therefore, this controversy has placed unusual pressure on its governance practices.
Stripe had not issued a statement at the time of publication.
The resurfaced tweets have raised fresh questions about investor due diligence. Many of the posts were public for years. Yet, they went unaddressed through multiple funding rounds.
Some analysts say investors focus heavily on growth and product metrics. However, behavioural risks receive less attention.
This case may shift expectations. Consequently, investors may begin expanding background checks on founders and executives.
Critics note that founder-led environments create power imbalances. Therefore, many employees hesitate to report concerns.
Paystack says the ongoing investigation will follow a “fair” and “structured” process. The company has not provided a timeline, meanwhile, Stripe may face pressure to respond.
People forget that the internet never really forgets. A post that feels harmless in the moment can age badly or be read very differently years later. It’s why being intentional about what you share online isn’t about caution, it’s about protecting your future self.
This is a developing story.
