Paystack, the prominent Nigerian fintech firm acquired by Stripe in 2020, has suspended its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a subordinate. The decision comes as old social media posts from Olubi, dating back to 2010-2017, have resurfaced, igniting widespread scrutiny over their explicit and controversial content.
Olubi, 39, a computer science graduate from Babcock University, co-founded Paystack in 2015 alongside Shola Akinlade. The platform quickly became a cornerstone for online payments in Africa, handling billions in transactions and marking a milestone with its $200 million acquisition by U.S.-based Stripe.
As CTO, Olubi played a pivotal role in building the company’s technical infrastructure, earning him recognition as a trailblazer in Nigeria’s burgeoning tech scene. However, his professional ascent has now been overshadowed by personal allegations and a digital trail that has prompted questions about workplace conduct.
The controversy escalated this week after Olubi’s ex-partner, Max Obae, known online as Maki, publicly accused him of misogyny, emotional abuse, and sexual exploitation.
In a series of posts on X, Maki detailed what she described as a toxic relationship, alleging that Olubi “pretended to be gay to lure feminists into his circle and slowly break the feminists out of them through depressing humiliation rituals, using them as sex objects and keeping them in check with money.”
She claimed the relationship ended via an email titled “Severance“, framing it as a business-like dissolution amid claims of manipulation and control.
Maki’s revelations, shared starting November 11, 2025, prompted online users to unearth Olubi’s archived posts from his X account, @0x.
Among the resurfaced tweets were several deemed offensive and sexually explicit. One from 2010 stated: “On a lighter note, I hear sex with a minor cures HIV. So my +ve followers, help yourselves. Ur neighbour’s daughter isn’t looking bad today.” Another, dated 2012, read: “I judge my female friends by the sound their pee makes. Thanks to the audio recorder in my bathroom.”
Additional posts highlighted in media reports included a 2011 tweet: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”
Reports also noted tweets joking about erections during meetings, expressing a desire to photograph a coworker’s thighs, and making inappropriate references to minors and sexualised anime characters.
While many of these posts were from over a decade ago, their reemergence has fuelled debates on accountability in the tech industry, particularly regarding past statements that could indicate patterns of behaviour.
In response to the growing outcry, Olubi deactivated his X account on November 13, 2025, shortly after the posts began circulating widely. He has not issued a public statement addressing the allegations or the tweets.
Paystack confirmed the suspension in a statement to TechCabal on November 14, emphasising that it takes such matters “extremely seriously”.
The company stated, “Paystack is aware of the allegations involving our co-founder, Ezra Olubi. We have immediately suspended him from all duties and responsibilities pending the outcome of a formal investigation to ensure the integrity of the process.” No further details were provided on the timeline or scope of the inquiry.
The allegations extend beyond Olubi’s personal life, with claims of misconduct involving a subordinate at Paystack, though specifics remain undisclosed by the accuser or the company. This has raised broader concerns about power dynamics in African startups, where rapid growth often outpaces robust HR policies.
Olubi’s case is not isolated in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, which has seen similar reckonings in recent years. As one of the sector’s high-profile figures, known for his distinctive style, including makeup and painted nails, Olubi has previously spoken about facing harassment due to his appearance. However, the current focus is squarely on the allegations and their implications for Paystack, which serves over 60,000 businesses across the continent.
Meanwhile, the founder of Patricia, Hanu Fejiro, has asked for the arrest of Olubi, saying he “is a paedophile and misogynist.”
He was quoting a thread of questionable tweets by Ezra Olubi.
This story awaits an update from the company.