Poco Lee to appear in court Sept 15 amid release rumour, UK prosecutors confirm

File: Popular Dancer and Hypeman, Poco Lee

The sexual offence case involving Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, remains active in the United Kingdom, with his plea and trial preparation hearing still scheduled for September 15, the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed.

In response to an inquiry by PUNCH Online on Saturday, the CPS Press Office confirmed that the case was still live and that Odinaka remained scheduled to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15, 2026.

The CPS said, “This case is still live, and Odinaka is still set to appear for a PTPH at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 15 September 2026.”

PTPH means Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing, a pre-trial hearing at which issues relating to the defendant’s plea and preparation for trial are considered.

The response, however, did not clarify whether Odinaka had been released from custody or remained on remand, as had been claimed in reports circulating online. 

Our correspondent has also contacted Snaresbrook Crown Court for clarification on his current custody or bail status and is awaiting a response.

The clarification followed reports circulating online that the dancer had been released from a UK prison and that the complainant had withdrawn from the case or that the matter had been settled out of court.

• Morning recap: ‘Fake’ SGF project office controversy, Poco Lee’s UK case puts entertainers on alert, other top stories
• Sexual assault: Celebrities on alert as UK remands Poco Lee
• Poco Lee: What we know about UK detention, rape charges

Those claims had not been independently confirmed by the UK court as of the time of filing this report.

Odinaka is facing five sexual offence charges in the UK — attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

Snaresbrook Crown Court had earlier confirmed that the case was listed for plea and trial preparation on September 15.

The court also confirmed that a reporting restriction had been imposed to protect the anonymity of the complainant under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

The case followed Odinaka’s visit to the UK in August for Davido and Friends, held at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14.

Odinaka has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him are yet to be determined by the court.