A leading African payments firm has taken immediate action against one of its original partners over an accusation of improper behaviour towards a junior colleague.
The trouble started on Wednesday when an ex-partner of Ezra Olubi shared private concerns publicly on social networks. This brought fresh notice to old posts by Olubi from 2009 to 2013, filled with crude remarks about workmates and young people. Among them were lines like judging women friends by bathroom sounds, sharing showers to save water, and a nudge to touch a fellow employee in the wrong way.
Olubi has now shut down his social media page, stirring up talks about holding people to account, past actions, and how online words linger for years.
The company, which a global payments giant bought in 2020, confirmed on Friday that it launched a proper review. It stated: “We know about the claims against our partner, Ezra Olubi. We treat issues like this with great care. Right away, Ezra steps back from all tasks until the review ends.” It added that, to honour those affected and keep the check fair, it would say no more until done.
The firm, started in 2015 by Olubi and another partner, offers easy ways for shops to take card and cash payments across Africa. It was the first from Nigeria to join a top startup programme in 2016, served thousands of sellers, and sold for over 200 million dollars. Olubi helped shape its tech backbone and spread its reach.
No results from the review have come yet, and the firm holds off on more details.
