United Kingdom— NEWS

Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, is set to return to a United Kingdom court in February 2027 after proceedings in his ongoing case could not go ahead as scheduled on Tuesday.

The case came before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on September 15, 2026, for a plea and trial preparation hearing. However, the proceedings could not proceed because the charge sheet was unavailable.

As a result, no plea was entered at Tuesday’s hearing, according to reports citing BBC News Pidgin.

The court has now fixed February 8, 2027, for the next plea and trial preparation hearing. His trial has also been scheduled to begin on March 8, 2027.

Poco Lee is facing five sexual offence charges in the United Kingdom, comprising one count of attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration.

The allegations relate to proceedings before the UK court and remain allegations at this stage. Poco Lee has not been convicted of the offences, and the case remains before the court.

The latest development marks a further delay in the legal process after the dancer was previously scheduled to appear for his plea and trial preparation hearing on September 15.

Reports on Tuesday indicated that the prosecution required additional time in relation to the case, while the court subsequently fixed the new dates for the proceedings.

Poco Lee’s legal situation has attracted considerable attention in Nigeria and among Nigerians in the United Kingdom, particularly because of his profile as one of the country’s prominent dancers and entertainers.

For now, the next major stage of the case is expected to take place on February 8, 2027, when the plea and trial preparation hearing is scheduled to continue.

The trial is subsequently scheduled for March 8, 2027.