UK court confirms Poco Lee’s September hearing amid assault allegation

Popular Nigerian dancer, hypeman and entertainer Poco Lee is reportedly being held on remand in the United Kingdom and is scheduled to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on 15 September.

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The forthcoming appearance will be a plea and trial preparation hearing, a pretrial proceeding in which a defendant is expected to enter a plea, and the court considers arrangements for the subsequent conduct of the case.

While reports have linked the proceedings involving Poco Lee to an alleged assault and, in some instances, a sexual offence, the precise charge against the entertainer has not been disclosed in the publicly available information about the case.

His detention was confirmed on Monday by Benjamin Kuti, popularly known as the Oluomo of Derby and founder of the Community of Nigerians in the United Kingdom.

Kuti said Poco Lee was being held in a UK prison and that he intended to attend the entertainer’s forthcoming court proceedings in support of him as a member of the Nigerian community.

While discussing the case in a tweet on X, Kuti urged the public to allow the judicial process to run its course, stressing that the entertainer remained innocent until proven guilty.

BBC News Pidgin subsequently reported on Tuesday that Snaresbrook Crown Court confirmed that Poco Lee was due before the court on 15 September for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

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The court confirmation provides the clearest official indication so far that proceedings involving the Nigerian entertainer are before the UK judicial system.

How the reports emerged

Reports about Poco Lee’s alleged detention first circulated widely on Nigerian social media between 18 and 19 August.

Some of the early reports described the case as involving an alleged rape or sexual offence. However, details were limited, and no publicly available statement from the relevant UK authorities at the time provided the full particulars of the alleged offence.

Subsequent reporting identified a case at Snaresbrook Crown Court under the name Iweh Odinaka. Poco Lee’s full name is widely given as Iweh Pascal Odinaka.

Publicly accessible court information indicated that a case with that name was listed before the court on 21 August, with reports describing the proceeding as a bail application.

However, the publicly available information did not state the specific offence alleged against him or provide sufficient detail to establish the nature and circumstances of the accusation independently.

The latest confirmation from Snaresbrook Crown Court that he is scheduled for a plea and trial preparation hearing on 15 September, therefore establishes that court proceedings are ongoing, but does not, on its own, substantiate the descriptions of the alleged offence that circulated on social media.

There has also been no publicly reported statement from Poco Lee or his representatives addressing the case or explaining the circumstances surrounding his detention.

Separate allegation

Around the same period that reports of Poco Lee’s UK case emerged, Texas-based Nigerian rapper Jorji made a separate allegation against the dancer concerning an alleged incident in the United States in 2024.

Jorji alleged that Poco Lee attempted to sexually assault her and a female friend in Dallas, Texas.

**Photo of Texas-based Nigerian rapper Ms Jorji and dancer Poco Lee**

According to her account, she and her friend visited an apartment where Poco Lee was staying after seeking mentorship for her music career. She alleged that he subsequently made unwanted sexual advances towards them.

She said her friend resisted him before they eventually left the apartment, adding that fear had prevented her from publicly discussing the alleged encounter earlier.

Poco Lee has not publicly responded to Jorji’s allegations.

Some social media personalities, including Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, have questioned aspects of Jorji’s account and called for evidence before reaching conclusions.

There is, however, no verified information connecting Jorji’s allegation in Texas to the proceedings currently before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London. The two matters should therefore be treated separately unless UK authorities subsequently establish a connection.

Who is Poco Lee?

Born Iweh Pascal Odinaka on 21 October 1996, Poco Lee was raised in Ojo, Lagos, and he studied microbiology at Lagos State University, Ojo.

He gained prominence through dance, becoming particularly associated with Nigerian street-dance styles and the Zanku/Legwork movement.

His visibility in the entertainment industry grew through performances and collaborations with some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars, including Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Zlatan Ibile, and Tiwa Savage.

Beyond dancing, the 29-year-old has established himself as a hypeman and entertainer and has also released music, including “YARD” and “Otilo”.

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His stage name has been linked to the Italian musical expression poco a poco, meaning “little by little”, a nickname reportedly given to him during his school years before “Lee” was later added.

Poco Lee’s next scheduled court appearance on 15 September is expected to provide further clarity on the proceedings against him.

Until the precise charge and supporting particulars are formally established through authoritative court information, descriptions circulating online about the nature of the alleged offence should be treated with caution.