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We followed due process – firm
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My legal team reviewing termination – Olubi
By Chinelo Obogo
Paystack has sacked its co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following allegations from an estranged partner that he was having sexual affair with a junior employee.
In a blog post last Saturday, Olubi announced the termination, saying that the decision came before the company’s investigation was completed.
The controversy began in November when a social media post on X made by his estranged partner, Max Obae, alleged that Olubi was abusive and that he had sexual relationship with his subordinate.
The post went viral which caused X users to dig out series of tweets from his account which many saw as problematic.
Shortly after the controversy, Paystack which was acquired by Stripe, a US based company, confirmed that it had suspended Olubi and opened a formal investigation, stating that it had established a review process and intended to appoint an independent investigator.
However, Olubi in an update he posted, said he had received notification that his employment has been terminated and that he was neither given any meeting date nor an opportunity to respond before he was fired, stating that his legal team would explore possible steps in response.
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“Over the past few days, my name and reputation, built over years as co-founder and technical leader at Paystack, have been called into question because of information circulating online. In response, the Board of Directors of Paystack placed me on suspension and initiated what was described as an “independent” investigation.
“Once that process began, I chose not to make any public statements.
I did this to avoid interfering with the investigation and because I expected a fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online. This created a vacuum that allowed assumptions and misrepresentations to spread without challenge. Those who know me personally or professionally understand that the posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life. I have always, to the best of my ability, conducted myself in a manner that respects everyone’s dignity and safety.
“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. As co-founder, technical leader and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s internal 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 on this matter at this time.”
Responding to Olubi’s claims, Paystack in a statement released on Monday, stated it acted under its contractual rights and “followed due process” in making the decision, adding that it had met all financial obligations owed to the co-founder.
“As a regulated company operating in multiple markets, we have a responsibility to act quickly when conduct has the potential to undermine trust. After reviewing the situation, we exercised our right under his contract and followed due process to end his employment.
“This has no bearing and is separate from the independent investigation into the allegations of workplace misconduct, which remains ongoing. The review is being led by Aluko and Oyebode, the external law firm appointed by the Board. It is continuing independently, and we will share updates once it is complete,” the company stated.
