A high-profile legal dispute has emerged in Nigeria’s technology and media circles as Ezra Olubi, co-founder and former chief technology officer of fintech company Paystack, moves to challenge statements made about him by investigative journalist David Hundeyin. The confrontation marks Olubi’s first major public legal action since his controversial exit from Paystack in late 2025. At its core, the case raises questions about defamation, online commentary, and reputational harm in the age of social media.
Background to the Dispute
Olubi’s legal team issued a formal pre-action notice dated January 26, 2026, accusing Hundeyin of publishing defamatory content on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The notice alleges that a series of posts published in December 2025 and January 2026 contained false and malicious claims that damaged Olubi’s personal and professional standing. According to the lawyers, the posts reached millions of users and sparked widespread ridicule and harm.
Content of the Allegations
Central to the dispute are posts in which Hundeyin compared Olubi to American music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has faced multiple legal accusations in the United States. The posts reportedly suggested similarities in character traits, personal behavior, and alleged misconduct, and went further to speculate about drug use. Olubi’s lawyers argue that these claims portrayed him as dangerous, egotistical, sexually deviant, and a drug addict, descriptions they insist are entirely unfounded.
Legal Demands and Compensation Claim
In the pre-action notice, Olubi’s representatives, the law firm Templars, outlined four specific demands directed at Hundeyin. These include the permanent removal of the disputed posts, a written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory statements, and a public retraction and apology with comparable visibility to the original content. The notice also seeks ₦140 million, roughly USD 100,000, in damages for alleged reputational harm and emotional distress.
Timeline and Procedural Context
The letter gives Hundeyin seven days to comply with the demands, in line with the Lagos State High Court’s pre-action protocol. Failure to do so, the lawyers warn, would leave Olubi with no option but to formally file a defamation lawsuit in court. As of publication, no case has yet been lodged, and the matter remains at the pre-litigation stage.
Connection to Paystack Exit
The legal dispute unfolds against the backdrop of Olubi’s abrupt departure from Paystack, a company he co-founded and helped grow before its acquisition by Stripe in 2020. In November 2025, Paystack suspended and later terminated Olubi following the resurfacing of decade-old explicit posts and new allegations from a former partner. The company cited significant reputational damage as the reason for its decision.
Olubi’s Response to Termination
Olubi publicly challenged the process surrounding his dismissal, arguing that it violated internal governance standards. In a blog post published at the time, he claimed the board acted before an independent investigation into separate workplace misconduct allegations had concluded. He also stated that he was not granted a hearing, describing the move as a clear breach of due process.
Hundeyin’s Public Reaction
Hundeyin acknowledged receipt of the legal notice and responded publicly on X with a dismissive and confrontational tone. He rejected the demands, framed the legal threat as an attempt to silence criticism, and mocked the compensation amount by suggesting it be increased dramatically. Hundeyin also argued that his social media posts should not be treated as personal legal statements attributable to him in court.
Broader Legal Context
The confrontation adds to Hundeyin’s history of defamation-related controversies, including a 2024 libel judgment in the United Kingdom. In that case, a British court ordered him to pay £95,000 in damages after he failed to defend claims brought by a BBC journalist. Other disputes in Nigeria have resulted in legal threats but did not progress to formal court proceedings.
As the seven-day deadline outlined in the pre-action notice approaches, attention remains fixed on whether the dispute will escalate into a full legal battle. The case underscores the growing tension between public commentary, journalistic expression, and legal accountability in Nigeria’s digital public sphere. For now, the standoff between Ezra Olubi and David Hundeyin remains unresolved, with its outcome likely to carry implications beyond the two individuals involved.