By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, will return to a United Kingdom court in February 2027 for a plea and pre-trial hearing, after his scheduled appearance on Tuesday could not proceed as planned.
Poco Lee was expected to appear before the Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, for a plea and trial preparation hearing. However, the proceeding did not advance to the plea stage because the charge sheet was reportedly unavailable in court.
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The Merit Newspaper reports that the court has now fixed February 8, 2027, for the next hearing, when the entertainer is expected to formally indicate his plea. His trial has subsequently been scheduled to commence on March 8, 2027.
The development follows Poco Lee’s earlier appearance before the UK courts in connection with five sexual offence charges, including two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration. The alleged offences were reportedly said to have occurred in Tower Hamlets, east London, on July 23, 2026.
Poco Lee, who was granted bail on September 11, has denied committing the alleged offences and maintained that he is innocent. His case remains before the court, and the allegations have not been determined.
Tuesday’s court proceedings reportedly attracted significant attention from Nigerians in the United Kingdom, with supporters attending the hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Reports said the courtroom gallery was filled to capacity, with some people unable to secure seats inside.
With the next hearing now fixed for February 8, 2027, and the trial scheduled for March 8, the legal case involving the Nigerian entertainer is expected to continue into next year. Until the matter is determined by the court, Poco Lee remains presumed innocent of the allegations against him.
