LAGOS / SAN FRANCISCO — The career of one of Africa’s most prominent technology leaders, Ezra Olubi, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Paystack, has come under intense scrutiny following the resurfacing of archived social media posts. The screenshots, circulating widely online, reveal a series of shocking, bizarre, and deeply disturbing comments that have sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms.
The controversy surrounding Paystack Co-founder Ezra Olubi extends far beyond the Nigerian tech scene, striking directly at the reputation of its parent company, the U.S. payments giant Stripe. Since Stripe acquired Paystack in 2020 for over $200 million, the company and executives like Olubi have been expected to lead its expansion across Africa. The silence from both Paystack leadership and Stripe executives has only amplified the public relations challenges, drawing widespread attention from tech industry watchers and media outlets covering Nigerian tech news.
The Digital Footprint of Disturbing Tweets
The screenshots, now circulating widely online, document Olubi’s historical social media activity, primarily from his early career before Paystack’s rise to prominence. These archived tweets are not merely controversial—they cross clear ethical and societal boundaries, containing statements that:
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Trivialize and advocate for illegal sexual acts, including remarks involving minors.
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Exhibit extreme misogyny and promote harassment.
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Show a shocking, cavalier attitude towards public health crises, such as HIV and Hepatitis B.
The sheer volume and disturbing nature of these historical posts have led to an unprecedented public outcry. Social media users, journalists covering Nigerian tech controversies, and digital ethics observers have expressed revulsion, demanding immediate accountability from both Paystack and Stripe leadership.
As of reporting, neither Ezra Olubi, Paystack, nor Stripe has issued a public statement addressing the authenticity of the resurfaced tweets, the nature of the comments, or the CTO’s current status within the company.
The ongoing corporate silence has intensified the controversy, raising immediate concerns about:
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Corporate Due Diligence: Questions are emerging regarding Stripe’s executive vetting processes and risk assessment following its 2020 acquisition of Paystack. Observers are scrutinizing the extent to which background checks on senior leadership align with global best practices.
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Brand Integrity: The controversy poses a direct challenge to Paystack and Stripe’s reputations, companies entrusted with safeguarding sensitive financial data for millions of businesses and customers across Africa.
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Governance Standards: Stakeholders are watching closely to assess whether Stripe’s zero-tolerance policies on harassment, illegal activity, and workplace misconduct are being upheld across its African operations.
Analysts, tech industry insiders, and the public are anticipating a decisive official response to clarify the companies’ positions and outline accountability measures regarding one of Africa’s most high-profile tech executives. The fallout from the controversy is expected to have far-reaching implications for the reputation, governance, and operations of both Paystack and Stripe in the African tech ecosystem.