Bento Africa: A Startup in Free Fall Amid Scandal and Chaos

Bento Africa’s dramatic crisis has sent shockwaves through the business community. What started as allegations of tax and pension fraud has spiralled into leadership confusion, mass layoffs, unpaid salaries and even the suspension of transactions by Bento Africa.

The first signs of trouble emerged when businesses discovered that Bento had collected employee PAYE taxes and pensions but failed to remit them. Receipts issued by the company were later exposed as fraudulent, leaving businesses in violation of tax laws. Regulatory bodies, including the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), quickly launched investigations. Despite mounting evidence, CEO Ebun Okubanjo initially dismissed the allegations.

However, just a week later, he announced his resignation, an exit that only deepened the uncertainty. Bento issued a statement suggesting investors were retrieving company credentials from Okubanjo, yet at least two investors denied any knowledge of such a move. Meanwhile, Ebun Okubanjo continued issuing directives to employees, raising questions about who was truly in charge.

As the crisis unfolded, Bento’s troubles worsened. Employees expecting their January salaries were told to wait while the company processed pending payrolls. But when Bento’s 10-person tech team refused to work without pay, they were abruptly locked out of their work emails and dismissed.

Bento’s internal issues extend beyond financial mismanagement.

In 2022, reports surfaced of a toxic work environment marked by verbal abuse, denial of leave requests, and abrupt terminations. Employees described a culture of fear, with some learning of their dismissals through Slack messages or emails. Using the #HorribleBosses Bento employees took to social media platforms like Instagram to share their pain. The African Tech Radio confirms this.

Despite public apologies from Okubanjo, little changed within the company. The same erratic leadership and disregard for employee welfare persisted, culminating in the current crisis. Some employees, fearing reputational damage, quietly removed Bento from their professional profiles. Others, hoping for stability, were instead met with abrupt terminations.

With the leadership uncertainty, legal scrutiny, and dwindling customer trust, Bento Afica’s future looks increasingly uncertain. Businesses that once relied on Bento are cutting ties, while employees left unpaid seek recourse.