‘Use 18 hours to fear women’ — Poco Lee breaks silence after UK detention

Nigerian dancer and hypeman Iweh “Poco Lee” Odinaka has broken his silence following his release from detention in the United Kingdom, maintaining his innocence and reflecting on his experience in custody.

Speaking during a video call shared on Sunday by activist Martins “VeryDarkMan(VDM)” Otse, Poco Lee said his major concern while detained was the welfare of those close to him and the effect his situation had on their lives and businesses.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that Poco Lee made his first public appearance following his release in a video showing him with Afrobeats star Burna Boy.

During the video call, the dancer said he tried not to burden those around him while dealing with his detention.

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“I was just being myself. God sees my heart. My only worries out there were about my people. I told Jago, he could not do anything business-wise or social media-wise.

“I am not a small child and didn’t want to stress anyone. Men, use eighteen hours to fear women out of the twenty-four hours in a day,” he said.

‘I didn’t do what I was accused of’

Poco Lee also denied committing the alleged offences for which he was charged, saying his belief in his innocence helped him remain mentally strong while in detention.

“If I was inside there and I did what I was accused of, I would have felt I was paying for my sins, but since I knew I didn’t do what I was accused of, my mind is pure,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to Burna Boy, Rahman Jago, and others who supported him during the period.

“Nobody would have wanted to associate themselves with something like that, but Burna Boy stood by me, [so did] Jago and some of my other guys,” he said.

Poco Lee also suggested that some people appeared pleased by his predicament, adding that he did not feel compelled to explain himself to everyone.

“As a person, I only wake, eat, dance and do other things. Imagine I woke up one day and saw messages. I don’t use to get problems; am I the only person in the world? I felt like those people were happy that something like this happened to me,” he said.

Case remains active

Poco Lee’s release from custody has not brought the criminal proceedings against him to an end.

The United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed on Saturday that the case remains active and that the dancer is scheduled to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court on 15 September for a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing (PTPH).

“This case is still live, and Odinaka is still set to appear for a PTPH at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 15 September 2026,” the CPS Press Office said in response to an inquiry.

Some of Poco Lee’s associates have claimed that the complainant withdrew the case, but the CPS has not confirmed this.

The prosecution service also failed to disclose the circumstances or conditions of his release.

Five charges

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.

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

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

The PTPH scheduled for 15 September is expected to address matters including his plea and preparations for a possible trial.

A reporting restriction is in place to protect the complainant’s identity.

Poco Lee travelled to the UK in August for the Davido and Friends concert at Crystal Palace Bowl in London on 14 August.

His latest comments mark his first substantive public response to the allegations and his period in detention since he resurfaced following his release.

The dancer has denied the allegations against him. The charges remain before the court, and he has not been convicted of any offence.

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