Paystack Fires Ezra Olubi Over Misconduct Allegations

Ezra Olubi says Paystack terminated him before concluding its sexual misconduct investigation, alleging the company violated its own internal review policies.

Paystack co-founder Ezra Olubi says the company unfairly terminated his employment before completing an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate. In a detailed blog post published on Sunday, November 23, Olubi said Paystack dismissed him without giving him any opportunity to respond to the claims or participate in the investigation.

According to Olubi, the process contradicted the internal policies he helped design during his time at the company.

“I was dismissed before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity to respond to the issues raised.“
– Ezra Olubi, in his statement

He added that his legal team is now reviewing the circumstances surrounding the termination and whether Paystack followed due process.

Background: Allegations and Viral Resurfaced Tweets

The misconduct allegations first appeared in mid-November, when an online post accused Olubi of inappropriate behavior toward a junior employee. Shortly after, social media users resurfaced several decade-old tweets, including one encouraging inappropriate workplace touching.

Olubi did not directly address the contents of the tweets but said:

“The posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life.“

The allegations led Paystack to suspend him and announce plans to appoint an independent reviewer. However, Olubi now claims that the company proceeded to terminate him before the investigation even began or reached any meaningful stage.

Paystack Yet to Respond to Olubi’s Claims

Paystack previously confirmed his suspension and the intention to conduct a formal investigation but has not commented publicly on Olubi’s claim that he was dismissed prematurely.

Questions remain:

Did Paystack’s investigation formally begin?
Was Olubi granted any opportunity to respond?
Did the company conclude the review before acting?

At the time of publication, Paystack had not responded to TechCabal’s request for clarification.

Ezra-Olubi-Termination-Post — Ezra Olubi Termination Post

Ezra-Olubi-Paystack-Co-founder-and-CTO — Ezra Olubi Termination Post

A Leadership Controversy at One of Africa’s Most Admired Tech Companies

For years, Paystack has been regarded as a model African tech company, known for its transparent culture, operational excellence, and global influence following its $200 million acquisition by Stripe.

The fallout from this dispute places unusual scrutiny on:

Paystack’s internal governance
Its handling of allegations involving senior leadership
How the company upholds the values it publicly promotes

Industry observers believe that the company’s next steps will significantly shape wider expectations around accountability in Africa’s startup ecosystem.

Ezra Olubi’s statement raises serious questions about how Paystack handled its internal procedures regarding allegations of misconduct. While Olubi focuses on claiming procedural unfairness, he does not address the substance of the allegations directly.

As the tech ecosystem watches closely, Paystack’s response, or silence, may influence conversations around leadership accountability, internal investigations, and the culture of African tech companies for years to come.

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