The management of Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has publicly acknowledged singer Zlatan Ibile and others for their support as the dancer continues to face an ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, Poco Lee’s management said Zlatan had been supportive behind the scenes and played an important role during the difficult period.
The statement came amid discussions online about the level of support Poco Lee received from some members of the Nigerian entertainment industry while dealing with his legal situation in the UK.
“We would like to publicly acknowledge that Zlatan, along with others, has been extremely supportive and helpful through this matter,” the management said.
“Their involvement, support, and effort have been vital to moving things forward. We deeply value their ongoing support and dedication, and we kindly request that everyone refrain from spreading negative narratives.”
The statement appears to address speculation surrounding Zlatan’s involvement after online discussions questioned why the singer had not been publicly mentioned among those supporting Poco Lee.
Poco Lee had earlier acknowledged Burna Boy and Rahman Jago for standing by him during the difficult period. His management has now clarified that Zlatan was also among those who offered support, although it did not disclose the specific nature of his involvement.
The latest statement also comes as Poco Lee’s UK legal proceedings continue.
The dancer is facing five sexual-offence charges in the United Kingdom, including two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration. He has denied the allegations and has not been convicted of any offence.
Poco Lee’s case was before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15, but the scheduled plea and trial-preparation hearing could not proceed after the charge sheet was reportedly unavailable. No plea was entered, and the court subsequently moved the next hearing to February 8, 2027. A trial is currently scheduled for March 8, 2027.
The dancer was previously granted bail on September 11 after spending weeks in custody. His release was followed by online discussions and various claims about the case, prompting his management to repeatedly call for restraint and caution in public commentary.
In August, the management and legal team had specifically warned against treating allegations as proof of guilt and rejected reports linking the case to alleged drink spiking, saying that claim did not form part of the charges before the court.
The management has continued to urge members of the public to allow the legal process to take its course rather than relying on unverified information circulating online.
The latest statement thanking Zlatan similarly called for an end to negative narratives surrounding the matter.
Zlatan and Poco Lee have maintained a close professional relationship within Nigeria’s entertainment industry, with the two entertainers frequently appearing together around the country’s music and dance scene.
While the management did not provide details about the nature of Zlatan’s assistance, its public acknowledgement makes clear that the singer has been involved in supporting Poco Lee during the ongoing proceedings.
For now, the legal case remains active, with the next major court date set for February 2027.
Until the proceedings are concluded, the allegations against Poco Lee remain allegations, and any determination of guilt or innocence will be made through the UK judicial process.
