By GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO-EKITI – As Nigerians await the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan over the recommendation of the  National Judicial Council, NJC, that the suspended President of the  Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Isa Salami,  be reinstated, Senator Ayo Arise, has said reinstating Salami would be dangerous at this critical period when the nation is experiencing security challenges.

Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District between May 2009 and May 2011, claimed Justice Salami perjured when he swore to an oath that the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Aloysius Katsina- Alu, asked him to pervert justice in the Sokoto governorship petition between Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate,  Magatakanrda Wammako and  the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party,DPP,  Aliyu Dangiyadi.

Arise, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday, argued that since NJC allegedly found Salami guilty of perjury, he should first stand trial for the criminal offence, which, according to him,  attracts 14 years imprisonment.

Quoting sections 117 and 118 of the Criminal Code of the federation, Arise said “the nation stands a serious risk of moral uprightness if Salami is reinstated.”

He argued that the offence of perjury was more criminal than any form of corruption, suggesting that the only way the nation could be seen as fighting corruption and others was by allowing Justice Salami to stand trial having been found guilty of perjury.