Paystack CTO Suspended as Old Tweets Ignite Firestorm

LAGOS – Paystack, the Stripe-owned fintech giant, has suspended co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Ezra Olubi with immediate effect after allegations of sexual misconduct and a cache of explicit social media posts from 2009–2013 resurfaced online.

The controversy began Tuesday when a former partner, identified on X as Amaka “Max” Mbaegbu, released audio recordings and written accounts alleging emotional abuse and inappropriate relations with a subordinate during their polyamorous relationship. Though unnamed in the initial posts, digital breadcrumbs swiftly pointed to Olubi.

Within 24 hours, archived tweets from Olubi’s now-deleted X handle (@0x) spread rapidly. The posts, written when he was in his mid-20s, include graphic references to bestiality, pedophilia, incest, and the deliberate transmission of STIs. Several messages appear to sexualize female colleagues.

Paystack confirmed the suspension in a statement Wednesday: “We take matters of this nature extremely seriously. Effective immediately, Ezra has been suspended from all duties pending a formal investigation.” The company described the process as “fair, transparent, and structured” and declined further comment.

Olubi, 38, has made no public response. His X account was deactivated Wednesday afternoon.

The scandal has triggered nationwide conversation on X, with related hashtags trending for over 48 hours. A Change.org petition demanding the revocation of Olubi’s 2022 Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) award had collected more than 12,000 signatures by press time.

Paystack, founded in 2015 by Olubi and CEO Shola Akinlade, processes payments for thousands of African businesses. Its $200 million acquisition by Stripe in 2020 remains one of the continent’s largest tech exits.

The internal probe’s findings have yet to be disclosed.