implication of these ingredients is that the appellant is only guilty of the offence
of rape if the concurrent findings to that effect by the two Courts below are based
on evidence that the appellant knowingly had sexual intercourse with PW1,
without her consent. From the record of this appeal, PW1, appellant's victim, was
three years at the time of the rape which fact necessitates reminding the learned
appellant's counsel the import of the clear and unambiguous words that
constitute Section 39(c) and more particularly Section 282(1)(e) of the Penal
Code. The Sections provide:- "39 (c) A consent is not such a consent as it intended
by any Section of this Penal Code, if the consent is given- (c) by a person who is
under fourteen years of age." "282(1) A man is said to commit rape who, save in
the case referred to in Subsection (2), has sexual intercourse with a woman in any
of the following circumstances- (e) with or without her consent, when she is
under fourteen years of age or of unsound mind." From the foregoing, PW1 is
incapable of giving valid consent to any act of sexual intercourse under scrutiny
pursuant to Section 283 of the Penal Code. It is sufficient under the law to convict
the appellant on evidence that establishes sexual intercourse only between the
two. Proof of PW1's consent being irrelevant is unnecessary. The finding of the
trial Court at page 76 of the record and the lower Court's affirmation of the
finding on the point at page 167 remain unassailable." Per MUHAMMAD, J.S.C.
(Pp. 14-16, Paras. B-A) (...read in context)
8. EVIDENCE - ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE: What determines the issue of
admissibility of evidence