CONVICTED influence-peddler Guy Velella left Rikers Island on Sept. 28 – set free illegally by an obscure municipal panel with ties to Velella’s buddies in Albany and New York City politics. The former state senator was ordered back to jail two weeks ago, but his lawyers are stalling and each day of freedom actually counts as a day spent behind bars. Last week, his foot-dragging lawyers filed papers with the Appellate Division First Department court in preparation for a Dec. 16 hearing before a five-judge panel. The city’s papers are due today. Velella has been thumbing his nose at Lady Justice for 77 days now. How much longer?