Nigerian dancer and hypeman, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has been charged in the United Kingdom with attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.
The charges were confirmed on Wednesday by the Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, which also said a reporting restriction has been placed on the case to protect the identity of the complainant.
The court’s Admin Team Leader, James Baker, said the case is scheduled for plea and trial preparation on September 15, 2026.
In an email to PUNCH Online, Baker said the charges against Poco Lee include “attempted rape, 2x rape, 2x assault by penetration.”
He added that the reporting restriction was made under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992 to protect the anonymity of the complainant.
When will Poco Lee appear in court?
Poco Lee is expected to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15 for plea and trial preparation.
The court had earlier confirmed the date following an inquiry by PUNCH Online, but said the exact time and courtroom would only be available on the day before the hearing.
Criminal court hearings are generally open to the public.
How did reports of his detention emerge?
Reports of Poco Lee’s detention first emerged after Benjamin Kuti, founder of the Community of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, said the dancer was being held in a UK prison and awaiting court proceedings.
Kuti, also known as Oluomo of Derby, said he was aware of the development because he regularly attends court proceedings and supports Nigerians facing legal issues in the UK.
He said Poco Lee was on remand and expected to appear in court for a plea hearing in September.
The court later confirmed the September 15 hearing date, although its initial correspondence did not disclose the charges.
Why was Poco Lee in the UK?
Poco Lee travelled to the United Kingdom in August for the Davido and Friends event held at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14, 2026.
He shared posts about the event on social media, while photographs and videos showed him alongside Nigerian singer Davido and other personalities.
Reports of his detention emerged several days after the event.
Poco Lee’s management and legal team have urged the public and media to exercise restraint, stressing that the allegations remain before the court.
In a statement signed by Adedoyin Faleye and shared on Instagram on behalf of the management, the team warned against treating the allegations as proof of guilt.
“Allegations are not evidence of guilt, and no conclusions should be drawn until the matter has been heard and determined through the appropriate legal process,” the statement said.
The management also dismissed claims involving alleged drink spiking, saying such claims were not among the allegations or charges before the court.
It urged the public and media to avoid spreading unverified information, stressing that Poco Lee is entitled to a fair hearing and due process.
Friends rally behind dancer
Some of Poco Lee’s friends and colleagues have also expressed support for him following reports of his detention.
Filmmaker g Omori described the dancer as “the purest soul” he had ever met, while socialite Rahman Jago said he believed there was more to the situation than what had been publicly reported.
Instagram influencer Sulaaaaaa also urged the public to avoid spreading unverified claims about the dancer.
Poco Lee has not been convicted of any offence, and the charges against him remain allegations to be determined by the court.
DDM will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds.
