A 54-year-old herbal medicine practitioner,

The accused, who resides in Ikeja, is charged with sexual assault.

The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offence was committed at 40, Awolowo Way, Ikeja, between December 2016 and May 2, 2017.

Ogu said that the accused and the 17-year-old girl’s mother were neighbours at the shop.

“The accused knew the girl from her mother’s shop and he made advances at her.

“The mother had been monitoring her daughter’s movement and when she was convinced of her relationship with the accused, she confronted her,’’ the prosecutor said.

Ogu noted that the girl told her mother that the accused had been sleeping with her since last year.

“Hence, the mother reported the case at the police station and the accused was apprehended,’’ he said.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened Section 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N250, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Akanni adjourned the case until May 24, for mention.