Nigerian fintech powerhouse Paystack plunged into turmoil Thursday as allegations of abusive conduct and a trove of resurfaced offensive tweets targeted co-founder and chief technology officer Ezra Olubi, prompting his X account deactivation and igniting calls for accountability in Africa’s booming tech sector.
The firestorm erupted after finance expert Max Obae, posting as @makispoke on X, levelled accusations of mistreatment toward domestic staff, workplace misconduct and manipulative relationships without naming Olubi, but users swiftly linked the claims to the executive.
Old tweets from Olubi’s account, dating to 2009, amplified the outrage, with posts allegedly endorsing workplace harassment and containing references to pedophilia, incest and bestiality — content branded “sick” and “deep ethical rot” by online commentators.
One 2011 tweet read: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.” Another from 2010: “My date last nite called me a paedophile! I told her that was an awfully big word for a 12 year old.”
Olubi, whose $40 million fortune stems largely from Stripe’s 2020 acquisition of Paystack, has issued no public response, fuelling speculation on corporate fallout for the payments giant now under global scrutiny.
X users vented fury, with @dharnyoung posting: “My mouth still dey open like this. I’ve seen like 6 old tweets from Egbon Paystack and I’m sure I’m the first person in my lineage to see those words used in combinations like that. That nigga is SICK. God please.”
@NnaanyiAnuofia added: “Crazy part is Bro was moving like that before Paystack money, now imagine his doings after they gave him millions of dollars and stock options.”
Ezra Olubi suspended by Paystack
Paystack, a Stripe subsidiary, admitted that Olubi had been suspended, adding that a “formal investigation” had now been launched into the claims involving a subordinate — a test for ethical governance in Nigeria’s tech hub, especially given his Officer of the Order of the Niger national honour.
TechCabal reported that it reached out to Olubi via email for comments, but he had not responded as of the time of filing the report.
“Paystack is aware of the allegations involving our Co-founder, Ezra Olubi,” the company told TechCabal 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.”
“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,” Paystack said.
