Papaya Ex speaks on Poco Lee’s legal troubles in UK

Media personality and content creator Papaya Ex has spoken out following the ongoing legal proceedings involving Nigerian dancer and hypeman, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, in the United Kingdom. Papaya Ex, who is a friend of the dancer, said she believes there is more to the situation than what has been made public and urged people not to exploit the case for social media attention. “I truly believe there is more to this situation than what people may have heard. It’s heartbreaking to watch my friend go through this and I hope people stop using it for clout,” she said. Poco Lee is currently in custody in the UK over criminal allegations and is scheduled to appear before Snaresbrook Crown Court in London on September 15, 2026, for plea and trial preparation. PUNCH reported that the court confirmed five charges against him: attempted rape, two counts of rape and two counts of assault by penetration. A reporting restriction has also been placed on the case to protect the anonymity of the complainant. Reports of Poco Lee’s detention first emerged after his appearance at the Davido and Friends event at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14. The founder of the Community of Nigerians in the UK, Benjamin Kuti, later told PUNCH that the dancer was being held on remand pending further proceedings. The development has also prompted support from some of Poco Lee’s friends and colleagues. Filmmaker TG Omori and socialite Rahman Jago have publicly expressed concern over the situation while urging people not to rush to judgment. Poco Lee’s management and legal team have separately appealed for restraint, stressing that allegations should not be treated as proof of guilt. The team also specifically rejected claims circulating online about alleged drink spiking, saying such claims do not form part of the allegations or charges before the UK court. As the case proceeds, Poco Lee remains legally presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. His September 15 appearance is expected to mark the next significant stage in the proceedings, with the court set to deal with his plea and preparations for trial.