Paystack co-founder Ezra Olubi has served a pre-action legal notice demanding ₦140 million in damages from investigative journalist David Hundeyin, claiming that a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) defamed him and damaged his reputation. The notice, dated January 26, 2026, was issued by law firm Templars on Olubi’s behalf and accuses Hundeyin of publishing “false, malicious and defamatory statements” last December that portrayed Olubi in a negative light.
The contested messages, according to the notice, described Olubi as a “lame, insecure social misfit” with a “god complex,” and drew controversial comparisons between him and U.S. music executive Sean “Diddy” Combs, referencing alleged abuses linked to the latter. The posts also included warning references about the treatment of critics and mentioned another person, Amaka Odel, in ways Olubi’s legal team says are injurious.
Olubi’s lawyers have outlined several demands: that Hundeyin permanently delete the specified X posts, issue a written commitment to refrain from further defamatory statements about Olubi, publish a prominently placed retraction and apology, and pay ₦140 million as compensation for reputational harm and emotional distress. The letter gives Hundeyin seven days to comply under the Lagos State High Court Pre-Action Protocol, warning that failure to do so could lead to formal court proceedings.
The dispute comes amid broader controversy surrounding Olubi’s recent departure from Paystack, the Nigerian fintech success story acquired by U.S. payments giant Stripe in 2020. Last year, Olubi was suspended and eventually removed from his role amid separate allegations of sexual misconduct involving a subordinate matters that sparked intense public debate and widespread coverage online.
Paystack has not publicly commented on the latest legal notice. Hundeyin, well known for his deep-dive reporting on West African politics, business, and corruption, shared the pre-action notice on his X account. His response was defiant: rather than comply with the demands, he mocked the legal threat, posting a curt message including expletives directed at the claim and, more broadly, at the Nigerian legal system itself. To date, he has not retracted or apologised for his posts.
Observers say the exchange highlights growing tensions between prominent Nigerian tech figures and outspoken journalists, especially as the influence of social media puts reputations and legal boundaries into sharper focus. Nigerian courts have increasingly seen high-value defamation suits tied to online speech, with outcomes often hinging on the interplay between public interest and proof of malice.
