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The Ezra Olubi Scandal: How a Tech Icon Ended Up in the Middle of a Serious Storm

The Nigerian tech space has been noisy for the past 48 hours, and at the center of it is Ezra Olubi — Paystack’s co-founder and former tech poster boy. What started as an internal issue at Paystack has now grown into a full-blown scandal attracting national attention, industry concern, and intense public discussion.

This is one of those stories where you look at the facts and immediately know: this is not a PR problem; it is a reputational earthquake.

What Triggered Everything

Paystack announced that it had suspended Ezra Olubi after an allegation of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate was reported internally. The company made it clear that:

• the allegation is serious,

• a formal investigation has begun, and

• they will not make further comments until it is concluded.

That kind of language from a major fintech company tells you they are trying to protect the organization while also showing that they take the matter seriously. This wasn’t a soft-pedal statement.

But the internal allegation was only the beginning.

How Old Tweets Made the Situation Worse

Immediately after the suspension news hit the internet, people started digging up old tweets from Ezra’s account — tweets from 2009 to 2013.

This is where the scandal escalated.

The tweets contained:

• sexual jokes about coworkers,

• inappropriate remarks involving minors,

• questionable references to photographing colleagues,

• and other disturbing comments that have no business being associated with a senior leader of any company, especially not one owned by Stripe.

Whether these tweets were ignored for years or simply forgotten, they resurfaced at the worst possible moment.

And the public reacted exactly as you would expect: with outrage.

Public Backlash and Industry Reaction

Within hours, the conversation moved from shock to questions about accountability in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

People called for:

• a police investigation,

• a review of Ezra’s national honour (OON),

• and a broader discussion on workplace safety and how senior executives use their influence.

On social media, the tone shifted quickly. What many used to view as “eccentric behavior” or “quirky personality” suddenly became evidence of a pattern. Whether that pattern is real or assumed is now part of the public debate, but the damage is already done.

And while all this noise was rising, Ezra quietly deactivated his X account, offering no public explanation.

Why This Case Matters

Ezra is not just another tech bro.
He is one of the most visible faces in African fintech — someone who influenced culture, fashion, identity conversations, and tech leadership.

Paystack’s brand has always been tied to innovation, excellence, and credibility. So a scandal at this level hits differently.

This situation opens up bigger questions:

• How do Nigerian companies handle allegations against top executives?

• What standards should tech leaders be held to?

• Are we too quick to ignore red flags because someone is talented?

The scandal is bigger than Ezra; it is a mirror reflecting the gaps in the industry.

Where Things Stand Now

As of now:

• Ezra remains suspended.

• Paystack is conducting its investigation.

• No official statement has come from him.

• The public conversation is still growing.

• Industry leaders are watching carefully, because whatever Paystack does next will set a precedent.

This is no longer only about what happened inside Paystack.
It is now about how Nigeria’s most influential tech companies handle misconduct and protect their workplace culture.

My Take

This situation is serious, and the conversations it has triggered are necessary.
Talent does not erase responsibility.
Innovation does not excuse misconduct.

And the era where powerful individuals moved without accountability in the Nigerian tech ecosystem is ending. Whether Ezra is guilty or not is for the investigation to determine, but the lesson here is already clear:

Leadership is not just about brilliance — it’s about conduct, consistently.