Any person who‐
(1) has or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl being of or above thirteen years and under sixteen years of age; or
[1960 No. 30.]
(2) knowing a woman or girl to be an idiot or imbecile, has or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her,
is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for two years, with or without caning.
*It is a defence to a charge of either of the offences firstly defined in this section of this Code to prove that the accused person believed, on reasonable grounds, that the girl was of or above the age of sixteen years.
A prosecution for any of the offences defined in this section of this Code shall be begun within two months after the offence is committed.
A person cannot be convicted of any of the offences defined in this section of this Code upon the uncorroborated testimony of one witness.
Section 221 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria
Act structure