Nigerian fintech company, Paystack, has dismissed its co-founder and chief technology officer, Ezra Olubi, over alleged sexual harassment of a junior employee.
Olubi confirmed his removal in a blog post on Saturday, noting that the decision was communicated before Paystack concluded its internal investigation.
He stated that he was not allowed to respond to the allegations, adding that the termination contradicted the terms of his suspension and the company’s disciplinary procedures.
He also disclosed that his lawyers are considering the next steps on the matter.
“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,” he wrote.
The controversy broke out in mid-November when a social media post accusing Olubi of abusive behaviour went viral and prompted the circulation of explicit tweets from earlier in his career.
The backlash pushed Paystack to announce his suspension and the launch of a formal inquiry, with plans to appoint an independent investigator.
Paystack has not commented on why it ended Olubi’s contract ahead of the investigation’s conclusion.
The development has triggered debate within Nigeria’s tech community, drawing attention to how startups handle allegations of misconduct and the balance between swift corporate action and due process.
