The story of Ezra Olubi was, until recently, the perfect African tech success story. As co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Paystack, a company later sold to Stripe for around $200 million, Olubi had built massive wealth and enormous influence. He was seen as the poster boy for “progressive masculinity,” often photographed with painted nails and surrounded by top feminists who admired his queer identity, his wealth, and his love for cats. Many women even adopted cats in solidarity.
Within his social circle, Olubi was the center of attention. His influence seemed absolute. But behind this carefully crafted image, multiple sources describe a darker side.
A woman named Maki, who identifies as queer, recently became involved with Olubi. She claims he was manipulative, treating people well to gain their trust, only to act badly after intimacy. When Maki publicly called him out, many in his feminist circle initially dismissed her, labeling her accusations as “crazy” and “too much.”
Maki’s revelations, however, sparked a wider online investigation. The internet began digging into Olubi’s past, and soon, old tweets from 2010, 2011, and 2013 resurfaced. Within hours, they went viral, reaching millions of people.
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The tweets were shocking. Some suggested sexual attraction to minors, including: “If she’s 12 and willing, who am I to say no?” Others referred to bestiality: “F*cking cats is underrated.”* Some trivialized sexual assault: “R*pe is just surprise s*x.” Other posts hinted at inappropriate workplace behavior, secretly recording people, and having undisclosed flings.
These messages painted a very different picture from the “perfect queer” persona Olubi had shown publicly.
The allegations of sexual misconduct, combined with the resurfaced tweets, led to swift action. Paystack immediately suspended Olubi and launched an independent investigation. The company emphasized that employee safety and organizational values come before individual talent or achievement.
The fall of Ezra Olubi is now a cautionary tale. It shows that in the age of social media, past behavior can resurface and destroy even the most celebrated reputations. Success, talent, and influence are not enough if personal character is compromised.
What was once a celebrated tech hero story has become a global scandal involving paedophilia, bestiality, and sexual-misconduct allegations.