This is very apt Sir. We are compounding problems to ourselves if the only thing we rush to do after a crime is to identify the region or religion of the criminals. It is hypocrisy if that's what will determine our reaction.
It's my duty to use my platform and amplify theirs now since they're good at profiling ours instead of looking at the collective failure of our system.
Ezra Olubi claims Paystack fired him unfairly amid sexual misconduct allegations
By Muktar Oladunmade
Paystack co-founder Ezra Olubi has claimed that the company terminated his employment before completing an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate, describing the process as unfair and contrary to Paystack’s internal policies that he helped create.
In a blog post published on Sunday, 23 November, Olubi said he was suspended a week before as Paystack initiated what it described as an “independent” investigation into allegations circulating online. He now says he was dismissed “before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity to respond to the issues raised.”
Olubi said this approach breached the company’s policies. “My legal team is now reviewing the process that led to my purported termination, including its consistency with internal policies,” he wrote, adding that he would not be commenting further.
The allegations first surfaced in mid-November when an online post accused Olubi of inappropriate conduct with a junior employee. The post prompted users to resurface several of Olubi’s decade-old tweets, including one encouraging inappropriate workplace touching.
“The posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life,” Olubi said, but he did not address the specific tweets directly.
Paystack confirmed at the time that it had suspended Olubi and initiated a formal investigation, saying it intended to appoint an independent reviewer.
Paystack has not yet issued a statement in response to Olubi’s claims. It is unclear whether the investigation had formally begun or how far it had progressed before his termination. TechCabal has contacted the company for clarification on whether the investigation was concluded and whether Olubi was allowed to respond to the allegations before the decision was made. The company had not replied at the time of publication.
Olubi’s statement focuses on how the process was handled rather than offering a detailed rebuttal of the allegations themselves. While he maintains that the tweets circulating online misrepresent his conduct, he did not respond to the substance of the claims.
For much of the past decade, Paystack has been held up as one of Africa’s most admired companies: a case study in culture, discipline, and operational excellence. This dispute now places unusual scrutiny on those foundations. How Paystack navigates the next steps will shape its internal culture and the ecosystem’s expectations around accountability when allegations involve senior leadership.
Over the past few days, my name and reputation, built over years as co-founder and technical leader at Paystack, have been called into question because of information circulating online. In response, the Board of Directors of Paystack placed me on suspension and initiated what was described as an “independent” investigation.
Once that process began, I chose not to make any public statements. I did this to avoid interfering with the investigation and because I expected a fair, thorough and unbiased review of the allegations being discussed online. This created a vacuum that allowed assumptions and misrepresentations to spread without challenge.
Those who know me personally or professionally understand that the posts being circulated do not reflect my conduct or the way I have lived my life. I have always, to the best of my ability, conducted myself in a manner that respects everyone’s dignity and safety.
On Saturday, 22 November 2025, I was informed that my employment had been terminated. This decision was taken before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity for me to respond to the issues raised, in clear contravention of the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s own internal policies.
As co-founder, technical leader and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s internal operations. I engaged with this investigation in good faith and cooperated fully with the Board’s directives on that basis.
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.
Fintech Company Paystack Fires Co-Founder Ezra Olubi Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Nigeria’s leading fintech company, Paystack, has terminated the appointment of its Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, over sexual misconduct allegations.
Olubi confirmed the sacking in a personal blog post at the weekend, stating that the company dismissed him before concluding its internal investigation into the matter.
He insisted he was not given a hearing or the opportunity to respond to the allegations prior to termination.
He noted that the decision was communicated without a meeting and appears inconsistent with the terms of his suspension and the company’s policies.
“On Saturday, 22 November 2025, I was informed that my employment had been terminated. This decision was taken before the supposed investigation was concluded, and without any meeting, hearing, or opportunity for me to respond to the issues raised, in clear contravention of the terms of the suspension and Paystack’s own internal policies,” he said.
“As co-founder, technical leader and long-serving Board member, I have been part of instituting the systems and processes that underpin Paystack’s internal operations. I engaged with this investigation in good faith and cooperated fully with the Board’s directives on that basis.”
“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 added.
The scandal erupted in mid-November after a social media user accused the Paystack executive of abusive behaviour.
The post went viral instantly, prompting thousands to resurface a trove of explicit and controversial tweets authored by Olubi between 2009 and 2013.
One tweet from May 23, 2011, stated: “Monday will be more fun with an ‘a’ in it. Touch a coworker today. Inappropriately.”
The old posts, made years before he co-founded Paystack, recently resurfaced and rapidly spread across X, triggering renewed outrage.
Paystack, in its earlier response, confirmed that Olubi had been suspended and that a formal investigation had commenced.
The company said it had established a review process and intended to appoint an independent investigator to assess the allegations.
But Olubi’s claim that he was fired before that process concluded has raised fresh questions about internal governance, accountability procedures, and whether external pressure influenced Paystack’s decision.
Acquired in 2020 by global payments giant Stripe, in one of Africa’s most celebrated tech exits, Paystack now faces intense scrutiny as critics demand transparency.
Neither Paystack nor Stripe has issued any fresh public statement following Olubi’s post.
Salihu Tanko Yakasai (Peacock @dawisu) was the special adviser on new media to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano. Like his father Tanko Yakasai (who was Shagari's presidential liaison to the National Assembly), he is very outspoken. He doesn't hesitate to speak his mind. This has often gotten him into trouble (just like his father often got into trouble).
He annoyed some Kanawa because he defended his boss, Abdullahi Ganduje during the dollargate scandal.
He also annoyed some Kanawa because of his criticism and mocking of the former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, when the Emir had problems with Governor Ganduje.
However, he was sacked in February 2021 and detained by the DSS for criticising President Buhari again and asking him to resign after some school children were kidnapped by bandits. Ganduje Sacks Salihu Tanko Yakasai Over "Unguarded Comments"
His father said that his son was just beginning his journey and he stated that he was arrested 10 times. Salihu Tanko Yakasai then joked that he had 9 more arrests to go.
And in August 2023 he returned to the APC. He said that the national chairman of the APC, Dr Ganduje, had invited him back to the APC to consolidate on the gains that he has made.
JUNGLE JUSTICE: THE HYPOCRISY OF THE SOUTHERN NIGERIANS!
By Salihu Tanko Yakasai.
Everywhere you look in this country, you can see rot in the system. The complicity of those who should know better is evident, and the vices that have become normalized persist across different parts of Nigeria. From chronic underdevelopment in all six geopolitical zones, including the oil producing states and the so-called economic hubs, to the regions that pride themselves on their religiosity, there’s no shortage of poor leadership.
However, one thing I find both amusing and troubling is how quickly the South amplifies the problems of the North, often presenting them as unique or exclusive to us, totally oblivious to theirs.
For clarity, I am not excusing the North. I have addressed our issues many times, particularly regarding insecurity. In fact, some readers may recall that I was arrested by the DSS in 2021 during the administration of late President Buhari after I criticized the handling of the Tegina schoolgirls’ abduction. I have also written openly about the failures of northern leaders, including my 2012 article, "19 Northern Governors: The Certified Parasites." I have consistently urged young. northerners to build capacity and equip themselves to add value to Arewa and the country as a whole. Yes, we have been vocal in our criticisms and have held our leaders accountable.
What I rarely see happen, is that same objectivity from many in the South. Whenever something occurs in the North, they swiftly condemn all northerners collectively, presenting it as if the entire region is guilty or that such acts are widespread and culturally accepted.
Take jungle justice as an example. The killing of Deborah in Sokoto is often cited as a favorite reference point by Nigerians from the South. For the record, my position has always been clear: Deborah should have been handed over to the authorities if she committed any crime. No one has the right to pass judgment outside the law. Her killing was jungle justice, plain and simple. Does that mean blasphemy is condoned? Absolutely not. But it should be the courts, not a mob, that decides.
However, here’s the hypocrisy: that same jungle justice is also widespread in the South. Burning people alive with tires, stoning them, or using cutlass to unailve them is rampant all over the South.
Many high-profile killings of northerners have occurred there in recent years. Harira Jubril and her four daughters were murdered in Anambra in 2022 by suspected ESN operatives. Sixteen northerners were lynched and burned in Uromi, Edo State, in 2025. The violence at Sasa market in Ibadan in 2021 left many Hausa residents dead and displaced. In the same year, armed separatists shot dead northern traders in Orlu and Umuaka, Imo State. These are not rumors; these are facts.
Yet, somehow, these incidents are downplayed or ignored. When you mention them, some people respond by saying Deborah was killed “in the name of Islam,” as if that magically makes the killing of northerners acceptable merely because it wasn’t done “in the name of Christianity,” even though the perpetrators were Christians.
Even in the Southwest, where many present themselves as morally superior, the jungle justice carried out by the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) is conveniently forgotten. OPC began as a rights group but quickly morphed into a vigilante outfit linked to violent clashes across Lagos in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Human Rights Watch documented killings ranging from beheadings, torture, arson, and ethnic attacks in areas such as Ketu, Mile 12, Ajegunle, Idi-Araba, Ojo, and Isolo. Northern traders, civilians, and even police officers were victims, with official estimates of the death toll nearing 500. Yet this history rarely makes its way into their moral lectures. Curiously, their memory seems to begin and end with Deborah or similar acts in the North.
The[b] common denominator in all these examples is clear: jungle justice. It is neither northern nor southern; it is a Nigerian problem. This selective outrage is not only hypocritical; it is dangerous. If we genuinely want a better country, we must condemn evil wherever it arises, not just when it suits our regional ego. [/b] Jungle justice thrives on emotion, ignorance, and collective cowardice. It destroys trust, erodes justice, and turns ordinary people into executioners. Until we confront this truth honestly, without hypocrisy or selective morality, we will continue to dance in circles, pretending that one part of Nigeria is holier than the other.
The reality is that jungle justice thrives everywhere in Nigeria for the same reason: people no longer trust the justice system to protect them or punish offenders. And as the saying goes, once you allow the mob to decide who lives or dies, no one is safe, not even the mob!
This list is not exhaustive. It doesn't include the Milo Era (early and mid-1990s) and the era before that (1980s). It only features the Premier League era (1995 onward).
Champions of the Nigerian Premier Basketball League
1997: Lagos Islanders
1998: Lagos Islanders
1999: Lagos Islanders
2000: Lagos Islanders
2001: Lagos Islanders. Result of final: Lagos Islanders 70-55 Plateau Peaks.
2003: Ebun Comets
2005: Ebun Comets: Niger Potters came second (it was a round robin format).
2006: Plateau Peaks: Plateau Peaks beat Dodan Warriors 2 games to 0 in a best of 3 format. The venue was the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
2007: Ebun Comets: Ebun Comets beat Union Bank 74-64. The venue was the National Stadium, Lagos.
2008: Kano Pillars: Kano Pillars beat Union Bank in the final. The venue was the National Stadium, Lagos.
Lagos Legends Basketball Club halted Rivers Hoopers’ quest for a third consecutive Nigeria Basketball Premier League title, beating them 74-72 in a nail-biting 2025 Final 4 decider in Port Harcourt on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Both teams came into the final game of the season, chasing next year’s Basketball Africa League ticket after two wins in their opening two matches.
Lagos Legends, who beat Hoopers 80-79 during the final eight last month to end their three-year unbeaten run, started the game like a house on fire, racing to an early lead as Hoopers trailed for most part of the first quarter.
The Hoopers, however, nicked the first quarter 20-19, but they were given a hot chase in the second quarter by Lagos Legends, who ensured they went into the break 32-32.
Rivers Hoopers maintained a tiny lead in the third quarter, keeping the score 52-49, but the Lagos Legends were saving their best for the last.
Lagos Legends rallied late and tied the game 61-61 at some point. They took a one-point lead in another moment before Hoopers pegged them to 70-70 with 39 seconds to the buzzer.
Hoopers got two additional points but the Lagos Legends scored four more points at the death to win the game and prevent the 2024 BAL bronze medallists from winning a third title.
The result also meant Lagos Legends have beaten Hoopers twice in three of their meetings this season. Hoopers’ only win over them was 89-70 during the Inter-Group Phase.
Ultimately, Lagos Legends have also picked the ticket to next year’s BAL, taking over from Rivers Hoopers who have attended the last two editions.
Elephant Girls Stay Unbeaten After Stunning FBA In The WBLA Zone 3 Qualifiers
Nigerian representatives First Bank Basketball Club registered a solid comeback against home side Friend's Basketball Association as they closed out with a 63-59 at the ongoing Women Basketball League Africa Qualifiers to stay perfect.
November 23, 2025
Elephant Girls Stay Unbeaten After Stunning FBA In The WBLA Zone 3 Qualifiers
After a rocky opening that had them chasing shadows by the end of the first quarter, Nigerian representatives First Bank Basketball Club roared back to life in the second, flipping the script and grinding out a thrilling 63–59 win over their Ivorian counterparts, Friends Basketball Association, at the ongoing Women’s Basketball League Africa Qualifiers.
The Elephant Girls looked headed for disaster in their final group game as FBA came out blazing—relentless, fiery, and fully locked in. The Ivorians stunned the Nigerians with a blistering 16–0 run, striking with ruthless precision and sending First Bank spiraling. In what felt like seconds, the Nigerian champions found themselves buried in a 16-point crater, trailing 26–10 after the opening quarter.
But champions rise.
Wandoo Hembam, Godgift Joseph, Momololuwa Tewogbade, and Abigail Isaac combined for 36 crucial points, while standout performer Daphne Olugbagho powered her side with 11 points and two rebounds. On the other end, Zykera Rice was unstoppable—dropping a game-high 21 points and six rebounds—but her brilliance wasn’t enough to save FBA from what came next.
Nothing seemed to click for First Bank early on. Shots clanged out, turnovers piled up, and the team that had dominated its opening two games suddenly looked out of rhythm. But you don’t earn the title of “giant” without knowing how to claw your way back—and the Elephant Girls did exactly that.
The comeback didn’t erupt all at once; it simmered into form in the second quarter. First Bank tightened their defense, steadied their nerves, and delivered a clean 10–0 run that changed the temperature of the game. The energy shifted—palpable, powerful—and by halftime, the once-massive 16-point deficit had shrunk to a manageable three, with FBA leading only 37–34.
Momentum fully flipped in the third quarter, turning the contest into a gritty, back-and-forth battle. Possessions were intense, defense tightened on both sides, and though buckets were harder to come by, First Bank nudged ahead by taking the quarter 15–9.
The fourth quarter began with the Nigerians leading 49–46, and it quickly became a defining stretch for both teams. The lead changed hands multiple times, tension tightening with every possession. With five minutes left, the game hung on a razor’s edge—a single point separating the sides. And then came the dagger. Theresa Ebiegea stepped up and delivered a cold-blooded three-pointer that put First Bank ahead for good. A final defensive stand and two clutch fast-break finishes sealed the comeback, capping a gritty, nerve-clenching 63–59 victory.
The final buzzer didn’t just confirm a win—it affirmed the heart, depth, and championship mentality of a team that refused to crumble even when the night turned stormy.
Statistically, it was a tale of contrasts. FBA leveraged their speed and inside presence to win the Fast Break battle (12–9) and Points in the Paint (26–20). But First Bank dominated the glass, converting that advantage into a commanding edge in Second Chance Points (17–9). Both teams forced turnovers effectively, with FBA holding a slim 14–12 advantage, but it was the Nigerians who made the moments that mattered most.
First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos beat Friends Basketball Association of Abidjan 63-59 in Abidjan to qualify for the Women's Basketball Africa League.
The two-time African champions and nine-time Nigerian champions recorded a perfect record in the Zone Three qualifying series, winning all their three games.
First Bank defeated CSA Treichville of the Ivory Coast 66-55, defeated Energie Basketball Club of Benin Republic 70-56 before its latest victory against Friend's Basketball Association of the Ivory Coast.
First Bank won the Women's Basketball Africa League/Cup in 2003 and 2009, they came second in 2011, third in 1999, 2005, 2006 and 2008 and fourth in 2010.
The Women’s Basketball League Africa (WBLA) Final Round is scheduled for 4–10 December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
Politics › Re: Jungle Justice: The Hypocrisy Of The Southern Nigerians By Salihu Tanko Yakasai by naptu2(op): 12:51pm On Nov 24, 2025
