A United Kingdom court has granted Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, bail ahead of his scheduled appearance at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The court confirmed that the entertainer was granted bail on September 11. He is due to return to court for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH), a pre-trial proceeding that deals with the defendant’s plea and arrangements for the possible trial.
The confirmation resolves uncertainty that had surrounded Poco Lee’s status after reports circulated online suggesting that he had been released from custody. Before the court’s confirmation, the Crown Prosecution Service had confirmed that the case remained active and that Odinaka was still expected to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15, but it had not initially clarified whether he was in custody or had been granted bail.
Poco Lee is facing five sexual offence charges in the United Kingdom: one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration. The charges remain allegations before the court, and he has not been convicted of any offence.
The entertainer has denied the allegations and said he did not commit the offences. In a recent conversation with social commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, Poco Lee said his confidence during the legal process came from his belief that he was innocent.
The case has attracted considerable attention in Nigeria, particularly because conflicting claims about Poco Lee’s custody status and the future of the proceedings circulated on social media. Some reports had suggested that the complainant had withdrawn from the case or that the matter had been settled outside court. The Crown Prosecution Service, however, confirmed that the case remained active and that the September 15 hearing was still scheduled.
A reporting restriction remains in place to protect the identity of the complainant. That restriction is particularly important in a case involving alleged sexual offences and means that reporting on the proceedings must avoid information that could identify the complainant.
The September 15 hearing is not the trial itself. A PTPH is part of the pre-trial process and provides an opportunity for the court to deal with matters including the defendant’s plea and preparations for any subsequent trial.
The bail decision also does not determine whether the allegations against Poco Lee are true or false. Bail concerns the conditions under which a defendant can remain at liberty while criminal proceedings continue. The eventual determination of the charges will depend on the evidence presented through the judicial process.
For now, the confirmed position is that Poco Lee has been granted bail, the criminal case remains active, and he is expected at Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15 for his plea and trial preparation hearing.
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