Poco Lee’s Team Thanks Zlatan Ibile for Support, Appeals for Restraint Amid UK Legal Case
The management of Nigerian dancer and entertainer Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has publicly thanked Afrobeats singer Zlatan Ibile for his support during the entertainer’s ongoing legal case in the United Kingdom, while appealing to the public and media to exercise restraint and avoid spreading negative or unverified narratives about the matter.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, by Poco Lee’s manager, Faleye “Dee-Y” Adedoyin, the team acknowledged the behind-the-scenes support of Zlatan and others throughout the entertainer’s legal ordeal, without disclosing specific details of their involvement. “We would like to publicly acknowledge that Zlatan, along with others, has been extremely supportive and helpful through this matter. Their involvement, support, and effort have been vital to moving things forward. We deeply value their ongoing support and dedication, and we kindly request that everyone refrain from spreading negative narratives,” the statement read.
Poco Lee is currently facing five sexual offence charges in the United Kingdom, comprising two counts of rape, one count of attempted rape, and two counts of assault by penetration. He denies the allegations, and it should be stressed that he has not been convicted of any offence; the charges remain before the court, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. His management had previously urged the public and media not to treat the allegations as proof of guilt, and had specifically pushed back against reports concerning alleged drink spiking, stating that such claims do not form part of the charges currently before the court.
Wednesday’s statement followed renewed public speculation surrounding the circumstances of Poco Lee’s trip to the UK, after social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, claimed in an Instagram post that the entertainer had actually travelled to the UK for a Zlatan concert rather than a Davido show, as had previously been reported, while also questioning public expressions of support for Poco Lee while his case remained before the court. Poco Lee’s management did not directly address the specifics of VeryDarkMan’s claims in its latest statement, though the acknowledgement of Zlatan’s support comes shortly after Poco Lee himself had previously referenced both Burna Boy and Rahman Jago while describing the difficult experience he faced in the UK.
Poco Lee, who rose to prominence around 2018 after a viral video of him performing the “Legwork” and “Zanku” dance styles caught widespread attention, has a long-standing association with Zlatan Ibile, credited as a pioneer of the Zanku dance movement, whose early attention to Poco Lee’s talent helped bring him into the spotlight. As his legal case continues to unfold in the UK, Poco Lee’s management has continued to appeal for patience from the public, stressing that the appropriate legal process should be allowed to take its course.
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