Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, is due to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as his sexual offence case remains active, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.
The development comes amid reports circulating online claiming that Poco Lee had been released from custody or granted bail and that the complainant had withdrawn from the case or reached an out-of-court settlement.
However, those claims have not been independently confirmed by the UK court or the CPS.
The CPS confirmed that the case remains live and that Odinaka is scheduled to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH) on September 15.
The prosecution service, however, did not disclose whether the Nigerian entertainer is currently being held in custody or has been granted bail.
What the UK court has confirmed
Poco Lee is facing five sexual offence charges in the United Kingdom.
According to information previously confirmed by Snaresbrook Crown Court, the charges comprise one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.
The court also confirmed that the case had been listed for a plea and trial preparation hearing on September 15.
The charges are allegations before the court and do not amount to a conviction. Poco Lee remains presumed innocent unless and until a court determines otherwise.
The case has attracted significant attention in Nigeria and among the entertainer’s international audience, particularly because of his prominence in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Bail reports remain unconfirmed
Reports claiming that Poco Lee had regained his freedom began circulating on social media in September.
Some posts also alleged that the complainant had withdrawn the case or that the matter had been resolved outside court.
Those claims have not been confirmed by the CPS.
Punch reported that it had contacted Snaresbrook Crown Court for clarification regarding Poco Lee’s custody or bail status but had not received confirmation at the time of its report. The publication also noted that the CPS had confirmed the September 15 court appearance while leaving his current custody status unclear.
TheCable Lifestyle similarly reported that the CPS confirmed the case remained active and that Odinaka was still scheduled for the September 15 hearing, but said the prosecution service did not disclose whether he had been released on bail.
This distinction is important because an unverified report of release or bail should not be presented as an established court development.
What happens at the September 15 hearing?
The September 15 proceeding is listed as a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.
A PTPH is a procedural hearing in which matters relating to the defendant’s plea and preparation for a possible trial are addressed.
The hearing does not itself establish guilt or innocence.
The precise outcome will depend on what happens before the court and any subsequent directions issued in the case.
The CPS has confirmed that the case remains active, meaning the legal proceedings have not been withdrawn or concluded.
The five charges
The charges previously confirmed by Snaresbrook Crown Court are:
- One count of attempted rape
- Two counts of rape
- Two counts of assault by penetration
The full breakdown of the charges was confirmed by the court’s administration in August, after inquiries from Nigerian media organisations.
The court has also imposed a reporting restriction designed to protect the anonymity of the complainant.
That restriction is significant because sexual offence proceedings in the UK can involve legal protections designed to prevent the identification of complainants.
Media reports therefore have to be particularly careful not to publish information that could identify the complainant.
Poco Lee’s position
Poco Lee has denied the allegations.
His management has previously urged members of the public and the media to avoid treating allegations as established facts while the case is before the courts.
The management also disputed social media claims linking the case to alleged drink spiking, saying such claims did not form part of the charges confirmed by the court.
The distinction between an allegation and a proven offence remains central to reporting the case.
At this stage, there has been no conviction against Poco Lee.
How the case came to public attention
The legal case became widely discussed in Nigeria after reports emerged in August that Poco Lee had been detained in the United Kingdom.
The entertainer had travelled to Britain around the time of the Davido and Friends concert at Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14.
His subsequent legal difficulties generated considerable discussion across Nigerian social media platforms.
As details of the case emerged, the UK court confirmed the five charges and scheduled the September 15 hearing.
The case has since moved beyond social media speculation, with the charges and court date formally confirmed.
Why the bail claim matters
The conflicting reports about Poco Lee’s alleged release highlight the importance of relying on verified court or prosecutorial information in an ongoing criminal case.
A person’s release from custody, grant of bail, withdrawal of a prosecution or settlement of a criminal matter can have significant legal implications.
For that reason, such developments should be confirmed by the relevant court, prosecution authority or an authorised legal representative before being presented as fact.
In Poco Lee’s case, the latest confirmed information establishes that the criminal proceedings remain active and that he is expected to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15.
It does not establish that he has been granted bail.
What happens next
The immediate development to watch is Poco Lee’s September 15 appearance at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
The hearing is expected to deal with plea and trial preparation matters in relation to the five sexual offence charges.
Further information about his custody or bail status may become clearer through the court proceedings or official statements from the prosecution and defence.
Until then, claims circulating online about his release, the withdrawal of the complaint or an alleged out-of-court settlement should be treated cautiously.
The case remains before the UK courts, and its outcome has not been determined.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Crown Prosecution Service, as reported by Punch and TheCable, confirming the case remains active and the September 15 hearing.
- Snaresbrook Crown Court information reported by Premium Times concerning the five charges and court listing.
- Guardian Nigeria report on the CPS confirmation of the September 15 hearing.
- Premium Times report on the court-confirmed breakdown of the five charges.
