virgina but no injury was observed in the virgina and its sorrounding area. From the above evidence adduced by the prosecution before this court can one reach the conclusion that there was penetration of the defendant’s penis into the virgina of the victim in this case? As I have stated earlier our apex courts in a plethora of judicial decisions stated that slight penetration is enough to constitute the offence of rape. In the case of POSU and ANOR v STATE (20120) LPELR 4863 CA, the court of Appeal held as follows: “In IKO v STATE (supra) page 245, the Supreme Court was emphatic that it is not necessary to prove an injury or rupture of the hymen to constitute the crime of rape and reemphasised that penetration however slight is sufficient”. In the case at hand, it is clear that the defendant in exhibit A and A1 his extra-judicial statement to the police clearly stated that he rubbed his penis on the virginal of the victim. Could rubbing the penis on the virgina be equated with penetration? I think it cannot. However, the victim Nana Firdausi Bello who was 7 years old at the time the offence was committed remember vividly what the defendant did to her when she stated that the defendant removed her panties and inserted his penis into her virgina. When something 28

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