Media personality and influencer, Papaya Ex has spoken in defence of Nigerian dancer and hypeman, Poco Lee, following the latest developments surrounding his legal case in the United Kingdom.
Papaya Ex, who said she knows the entertainer personally, described the situation as painful to watch and urged members of the public not to exploit the controversy for social-media attention or “clout.”
Her comments came as the legal situation involving Poco Lee, whose real name is Iweh Pascal Odinaka, moved from largely unverified reports online to a confirmed court proceeding in the U.K.
The Snaresbrook Crown Court in London has confirmed that a case involving the Nigerian entertainer is listed for plea and trial preparation on September 15, 2026.
The development represents a significant update to the controversy that began circulating online earlier this month.
Reports about Poco Lee’s alleged arrest in the U.K. first emerged on August 19, with several publications reporting claims that he had been detained over an alleged sexual offence. At the time, however, there was no publicly available confirmation from U.K. police, the Crown Prosecution Service or a court, and important details about the allegation remained unclear.
The situation has since become more concrete following the confirmation of a court case involving a person identified as Iweh Odinaka.
According to reports on the court proceedings, Poco Lee is currently being held on remand in the United Kingdom and is expected to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on September 15.
The court has confirmed that the matter is listed for plea and trial preparation, although it has not publicly disclosed the precise courtroom or hearing time ahead of the date.
The September hearing is expected to be an important stage in the case because plea and trial preparation proceedings generally involve the accused indicating whether they intend to plead guilty or not guilty, alongside preparations for any subsequent trial.
Benjamin Kuti, founder of the Community of Nigerians in the United Kingdom and popularly known as the Oluomo of Derby, had earlier confirmed reports that Poco Lee was on remand.
Kuti said he became aware of the situation through his involvement in supporting Nigerians facing legal proceedings in the U.K. He also indicated that he planned to attend the proceedings to offer support to the Nigerian entertainer.
He urged members of the public to allow the judicial process to take its course, stressing the principle that an accused person remains innocent unless proven guilty by a court.
Amid the growing attention surrounding the case, Papaya Ex has now joined other associates and personalities who have publicly expressed support for Poco Lee.
In her reaction, she said it was heartbreaking to see someone she knows personally go through such a difficult period.
Rather than drawing conclusions from information circulating on social media, Papaya Ex said she believes there are aspects of the situation that have not yet become public.
“I truly believe there is more to this situation,” she said, adding that Poco Lee is “a man with a good heart.”
The influencer also appealed to people to avoid turning the controversy into an opportunity to generate online engagement.
Her position reflects the uncertainty that surrounded the case in its early stages, when social-media discussions moved faster than independently verified information.
While some reports initially described the allegations against Poco Lee as involving rape or sexual assault, more recent reports based on the court confirmation have generally referred to the matter as an alleged assault case.
The court’s confirmation of the September hearing did not publicly disclose detailed information about the specific allegation or the identity of any complainant.
This distinction is important because allegations circulating online should not automatically be treated as established facts.
A recent report also identified a criminal case under the name Iweh Odinaka at Snaresbrook Crown Court and said a previous listing on August 21 involved a bail application. However, the publicly available listing did not disclose the offence, with reporting restrictions also noted.
Separately, Nigerian-born, Texas-based rapper Ms. Jorji has made allegations concerning an encounter she said occurred in Dallas about two years ago. She alleged that Poco Lee attempted to sexually assault her and her girlfriend during a visit to his apartment.
The allegation is separate from the U.K. proceedings, and there is currently no verified public evidence establishing that the Dallas allegation is connected to the case before the U.K. court.
The emergence of multiple claims has contributed to the intense public interest in Poco Lee’s situation, particularly because he is a well-known figure in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Poco Lee rose to prominence through his work as a dancer, entertainer and hypeman, becoming associated with several prominent Nigerian music acts and entertainers. His energetic dance performances and appearances in music-related events have helped establish him as a recognisable figure within the country’s entertainment scene.
For now, however, the legal proceedings in the U.K. remain the central development.
The September 15 hearing will provide a clearer indication of how the case will proceed. Until then, details of the allegations remain limited in the public domain, while the court process is expected to determine the facts and legal issues involved.
Papaya Ex’s intervention therefore comes at a sensitive moment, with the influencer asking people to resist the temptation to make definitive judgments based solely on information circulating online.
Her assertion that there may be “more to this situation” does not establish Poco Lee’s innocence or determine the outcome of the case. Rather, it represents her personal view of someone she says she knows and considers to be a good-hearted person.
As the case moves forward, the focus is expected to shift increasingly from social-media speculation to proceedings before the U.K. court.
Poco Lee has not been convicted of any offence in connection with the case and remains entitled to the presumption of innocence while the legal process continues.
The September 15 proceeding is expected to be another major step toward determining how the allegations against him will be handled by the U.K. justice system.
Papaya Ex, meanwhile, has made her position clear: she believes the public should exercise restraint, avoid using the controversy to chase online relevance and allow the facts to emerge through the appropriate legal process.