Techbytes: Paystack fires co-founder Ezra Olubi following misconduct allegations (Condia)

Paystack has terminated the appointment of its co-founder and CTO, Ezra Olubi, after an allegation of misconduct involving a subordinate began circulating publicly on November 12, 2025.

Olubi revealed on November 23, 2025, through a blog post, that Paystack ended his contract before finishing its investigation into the matter, feeling hard done by.

In his blog post as reported by the Condia, Olubi said he was not given a chance to speak or defend himself before the company terminated his role.

He claimed the decision went against the conditions of his suspension and Paystack’s internal rules.

He also said his lawyers are now looking into what happened.

“My legal team is reviewing the process that led to my termination,” he wrote, adding that he would not comment further.

Paystack — which was bought by Stripe in 2020—has been under heavy public pressure as old screenshots of Olubi’s tweets (from 2009–2013) spread widely. Many people criticised the content and described it as inappropriate.

The situation has reignited calls for better workplace standards in Africa’s tech industry, especially as more cases of misconduct have pushed companies to address culture and leadership issues.

Paystack has not released a new statement since Olubi’s blog post. Stripe has also not commented on the matter.

If Olubi takes legal action, more details about what happened may become public through court processes.

Meanwhile, Paystack co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, has described his recent termination from the company as unfair, highlighting that the decision was made without due process despite his pivotal role in driving the organisation to its current heights.

The tech world was rocked on Monday, November 24, 2025, when news broke that Ezra had been relieved of his duties.

According to Techpoint Africa, Paystack, which achieved unicorn status in 2020, initially announced that it had engaged an external independent investigator to examine allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

However, Ezra revealed in a blog post that his termination occurred over the weekend, before the investigation had concluded and without any meeting or hearing.

“On Saturday, 22 November 2025, I was informed that my employment had been terminated. This decision was taken before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity for me to respond to the issues raised, in clear contravention of the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s own internal policies,” he stated.

Legal experts have weighed in on the matter.

Osita James Uche, Managing Partner at Blackcrest Law, told Techpoint Africa that the company’s next steps will depend heavily on Ezra’s contract terms following Stripe’s acquisition of Paystack.

“Usually, mergers or acquisitions include clauses requiring founders to stay on for a period to support operations. If this was voluntary, it may be easier to remove him for misconduct. But if mandatory, the situation becomes more complicated,” Uche explained.

He added that if Ezra retains operational freedom, board positions, or significant shareholding, he may still influence board decisions after the investigation.

“If he is still a significant shareholder and potentially a director, the final decision would need a board vote—but that cannot occur until the investigation reveals any findings,” Uche noted.

Paystack’s move appears to be aimed at safeguarding its brand and demonstrating that employee conduct, both inside and outside the company, has consequences.

In his blog, Ezra emphasized that Paystack’s internal processes were not followed and that no conclusions had been reached by the investigation.

“As co-founder, technical leader, and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s operations. I engaged with this investigation in good faith and cooperated fully with the Board’s directives on that basis.

My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies.

They will take the steps they consider appropriate, and I will not be commenting further at this time,” Ezra stated.

Ezra has vowed to contest what he perceives as an unjust termination through legal channels. How the situation unfolds remains to be seen.

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