Court fixes date for plea hearing in Poco Lee’s sexual assault trial

By Godwin Nufi

Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, a.k.a Poco Lee’s pre trial hearing over alleged over five sexual offences in the United Kingdom has been fixed for February 2027.

The date for the plea hearing was fixed following Poco Lee appearance before the Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

Poco Leee was hauled before the court over five sexual offence charges comprising one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

But the proceeding could not proceed because the charge sheet was unavailable, hence the court set a new pre-trial hearing for Feb. 8, 2027, and scheduled the trial to begin on March 8, 2027.

The former president of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, Benjamin Kuti, popularly known as Oluomo of Derby, who attended the proceedings disclosed the new dates in an update after the hearing, urging the public to allow the judicial process to run its course.

The latest development comes days after the Poco Lee was granted bail by the UK court.

The court confirmed on September 14 that Odinaka was granted bail on September 11, ahead of his scheduled appearance on September 15 for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing.

The Crown Prosecution Service had earlier confirmed that the case remained active and that Odinaka was expected to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15.

Poco Lee faces five sexual offence charges in the UK – two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

The alleged offences were said to have occurred in Tower Hamlets, east London, on July 23, 2026.

Odinaka first appeared before Thames Magistrates’ Court on August 18 before the case was transferred to Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He has denied the allegations and maintained that he is innocent.
(NAN)