Hanu denied the growing speculation, emphasizing that the dissemination of negative news often outpaces positive updates, leading to misconceptions about the firm’s status. In his statement, the CEO highlighted the role of various news outlets and blogs in perpetuating clickbait headlines and misinformation, contributing to the rapid spread of the false closure narrative. He expressed dissatisfaction over how information is disseminated, extending apologies to the platform’s users while affirming his resolve not to succumb to online harassment.
The incident was later linked to former Nigerian gubernatorial candidate Wilfred Bonse. Upon Bonse’s arrest, Hanu expressed relief at what he deemed vindication and directed gratitude toward the Nigerian police for their thorough investigation, hinting at a potential restoration of trust. Despite these events, recent commentaries have alleged that the firm could actually be on the brink of complete collapse.
Hanu’s public rebuttal to the closure rumors is an attempt to demonstrate the exchange’s resilience in the ongoing challenges. In response to the incident, Ezra Olubi, the co-founder and CTO of Paystack, voiced skepticism. Speaking on X, Olubi expressed doubts about the exchange’s narrative, suggesting that its executives might have misappropriated customer assets for extravagant spending before alleging a potential hack.