Paystack has terminated the employment of its Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Ezra Olubi, following public allegations that he had sexual relations with a junior employee. The decision, which Olubi says came before the company’s independent investigation was concluded, marks a sharp escalation in a controversy that has dominated the Nigerian tech space in recent weeks.

As we earlier reported, the issue first gained traction in mid-November after a social media post alleging abusive behaviour went viral, prompting users to resurface a series of explicit tweets Olubi posted between 2009 and 2013. Paystack confirmed his suspension at the time and announced that an independent investigator would lead a formal review.

In a blog post on Saturday, November 23, Olubi said he was dismissed without a meeting or an opportunity to respond, describing the move as inconsistent with the terms of his suspension and the company’s internal policies.

He added that his legal team “will take the steps they consider appropriate,” noting that he would not be commenting further.

Paystack, acquired by Stripe in 2020 in one of Africa’s landmark exits, has faced intensified public scrutiny as screenshots of Olubi’s old posts, including sexually explicit jokes and remarks many found predatory, continued circulating online.

38 worshippers, who were abducted from a branch of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) at Oke Isegun in the Eruku community of Kwara State, have regained freedom.

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced the development in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, on Sunday.

The Governor disclosed that the worshippers were released on Sunday. Even though he didn’t provide any information on how the abductees regained their freedom, AbdulRazaq commended security operatives and government representatives in the process.

“After many days of hard work by security forces and government representatives, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is excited to announce the freedom of 38 persons who were recently abducted in an attack on Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Eruku, Ekiti LGA, Kwara State,” the statement partly read.

Meanwhile, the state government expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, who “personally led the efforts” to free the abductees, noting that his “hands-on approach” ensured the safe return of the victims.

“The President had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 Meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi states.

“He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our people and Nigerians as a whole,” the statement added.

AbdulRazaq also thanked members of the security forces across the board, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police, for their efforts.

Meanwhile, the President has promised not to rest on his laurels until all Nigerians are protected, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity in the country.

In a statement on his verified X account on Sunday, Tinubu vowed that Nigeria would be secured under his watch, adding that every citizen deserves the right to be safe in any state of the federation.

“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” the Commander-in-Chief wrote.

He also gave updates on security disturbances in the country last week, noting that he had suspended his proposed trip to the Group of 20 summit, slated for Saturday, November 22, and Sunday, November 23, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in South Africa, and delegated Vice President Kashim Shettima.

The President also confirmed the release of the 38 Kwara church worshippers, and promised to firm up efforts to rescue 25 schoolgirls who were abducted by gunmen last Monday in Kebbi State.

Three years after its release, Asake’s Mr Money With the Vibe is still doing numbers. At the time of press, the track ‘Nzaza’ currently ranks 23rd on Spotify Nigeria’s Top 50 songs, that’s 148 weeks and counting, nearly three years of nonstop streaming for a debut project.

For most artists, a first album fades after its moment. For Asake, it’s really that moment that refuses to fade.

Released September 8, 2022, through YBNL Nation and Empire, Mr Money With the Vibe arrived when the streets already knew Asake’s name. He had already spent months turning singles like Sungba into hits. This 12-track debut built on that momentum, and he managed to do even more.

The project blends Afrobeats, Amapiano, and Fuji influences, creating a sound that can be global yet deeply Nigerian. Songs like Joha, Terminator, and Organise became instant hits, setting the tone for Asake’s larger-than-life run that would define Afrobeats in the mid-2020s.

From its first day out, Mr Money With the Vibe shattered expectations and redefined what a Nigerian debut could do.

Apple Music Africa: The album broke records for the most first-day and most opening three-day streams ever by an African project.Apple Music Nigeria Top 100: For a brief, almost unbelievable stretch, every single track on the album occupied the first 12 spots on the chart. Global Reach: The project reached #1 on Apple Music Album Charts in 26 countries, including six across Europe.

Albums fade, trends change, and new stars rise every quarter. Yet Mr Money With the Vibe remains glued to the top. That consistency says something about both Asake and his audience. For one, the project captured a moment in time, the rise of a new street-pop generation that blurred the lines between amapiano and Yoruba-rooted rhythm. Every track carried Asake’s trademark vocals and a hypnotic tempo that became instantly recognizable across countries.