Poco Lee’s UK Sex Offence Case Pushed to 2027

The Snaresbrook Crown Court in London has adjourned the pre-trial proceedings against Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, until next year after he was unable to enter a plea on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old was due to appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 15, 2026. However, the session could not proceed because the charge sheet was unavailable. As a result, no formal plea of guilty or not guilty was recorded. The court has now fixed February 8, 2027, for the next hearing, when Poco Lee is expected to indicate his plea. His full trial has been scheduled to begin on March 8, 2027.

Poco Lee faces five serious sexual offence charges: one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape, and two counts of assault by penetration. The alleged incidents are said to have taken place in the Tower Hamlets area of east London on July 23, 2026. He first appeared before Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 18 before the case was transferred to Snaresbrook Crown Court. A reporting restriction remains in place to protect the identity of the complainant under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992.

The entertainer was granted bail on September 11, days after an earlier appearance during which he had been held in custody. Confirmation of the bail came from court officials shortly before Tuesday’s listing. Supporters, including members of the Nigerian community in the UK, filled the public gallery for the hearing, with some left waiting outside due to limited space.

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UK-based community figure Benjamin Kuti, known as Oluomo of Derby, who attended the proceedings, later shared the new dates and urged the public to respect the presumption of innocence and allow the legal process to run its course without premature judgment.

Poco Lee has consistently denied the allegations. In recent comments, including during an Instagram live session with social media personality VeryDarkMan, he maintained that he is innocent and pointed to support from figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry, including Burna Boy, as evidence of his character. The dancer, born on October 21, 1996, and originally from Orlu in Imo State but raised in Lagos, had travelled to the UK in connection with the Davido and Friends concert at Crystal Palace Bowl in mid-August.

The Crown Prosecution Service had earlier confirmed that the case remained active despite circulating rumours of a withdrawal or private settlement. Tuesday’s adjournment means the matter will now stretch well into 2027, giving both the prosecution and defence further time to prepare. Poco Lee remains on bail pending the next stages of the proceedings.