By GBENGA ARIYIBI

ADO-EKITI – Former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Segun Oni, yesterday, insisted that the suspended President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami, must be tried for alleged perjury, just as he said he remains the National Vice- Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, despite the court’s pronouncement  which had asked him to stop parading himself as such.

Oni, who spoke with newsmen at Ifaki-Ekiti, in Ido-Osi Local Government Area of the state, said it was unfortunate that the court was yet to try Salami despite a weighty evidence against him that he committed the alleged offence.

He said the fact that the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Dahiru Mustapher, was a principal witness against Salami made the allegation more credible for immediate trial.

He, however, said he was not interested in the sending of the jurist to jail at all cost, adding that after trial the necessary authorities could grant him pardon.

“It does not matter if he is not sent to jail. He (Salami) could be tried and found guilty but could be granted pardon. If you try him, I am not saying he should go to jail, he could be pardoned.”

Oni said his position should not be misunderstood for that of a politician, noting that such an offence would not be glossed over in any civilised world.

While maintaining that he was still National Vice-Chairman of his party in the South-West, Oni said the ex-parte order which restrained him from acting in that capacity had been appealed against, adding that the Court of Appeal has granted a stay of execution against the interim order of the high court.

Oni said: “The Court of Appeal has granted a stay of execution as the first leg of our appeal on the injunction order filed by some people who went to court for an  ex-parte injunction.”

The former governor condemned the ejection of Makoko residents in Lagos, by the state government.