SCM Entertainment Desk I Tuesday, Sept 15, 2025
LONDON — A British Crown Court has scheduled a trial for early 2027 in the high-profile criminal case against Iweh Pascal Odinaka, the influential Nigerian dancer and hypeman professionally known as Poco Lee, following serious sexual offense allegations in London.
Appearing before the Snaresbrook Crown Court in East London on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Odinaka did not enter a plea as proceedings were adjourned.
The presiding judge fixed the entertainer’s formal plea hearing for February 8, 2027, with a full trial scheduled to begin on March 8, 2027.
Odinaka, 29, remains in custody on remand in a UK correctional facility after being formally charged in late August 2026 with five sexual offenses. Court records from Snaresbrook Crown Court confirm the indictment includes one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape, and two counts of assault by penetration. Under British law, strict reporting restrictions under Section 1 of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992 remain active to protect the anonymity of the complainant.
The legal developments have sent shockwaves across the international West African entertainment industry, where Odinaka has long been regarded as a foundational figure in exporting modern Afrobeats dance and youth culture worldwide.
Odinaka first surged to international prominence in 2018 through high-energy street dance videos that popularized viral West African dance styles, most notably the Zanku and Legwork.
Over the past decade, he evolved from a viral street performer into a prominent cultural curator, hypeman, and collaborator alongside Afrobeats heavyweights, including Burna Boy, Wizkid, Davido, and Olamide. He was instrumental in introducing breakout artists like Portable to mainstream audiences through the hit record “Zazoo Zehh” in 2021.
Reports of Odinaka’s arrest first surfaced in mid-August 2026, shortly after he traveled to the United Kingdom to perform at high-profile summer music festivals, including the Davido and Friends outdoor concert at Crystal Palace Bowl in London. Days following the event, community observers and representatives confirmed he had been taken into custody by British law enforcement authorities.
On Tuesday, a gallery packed with supporters and members of the UK’s Nigerian diaspora attended Snaresbrook Crown Court as the hearing unfolded. Benjamin Kuti, a UK-based community leader known as “Oluomo of Derby” who has monitored the legal proceedings, confirmed the court’s calendar adjustment after attending the session.
In response to the charges, Odinaka’s legal and management teams issued a statement through representative Adedoyin Faleye, urging the public and international media to exercise restraint and respect the judicial process.
The defense emphasized that Odinaka is entitled to the presumption of innocence under UK law until the case is formally adjudicated by a jury.
Furthermore, his management refuted various unverified social media rumors regarding the nature of the allegations, clarifying that claims circulating online involving “drink spiking” are not part of the official legal charges filed by UK prosecutors.
With the trial date now set for March 2027, Odinaka faces an extended period in detention as his legal team prepares his defense for one of the most visible legal trials involving a West African cultural figure in recent British legal history.
