The government of Daniel Ortega granted Nicaraguan nationality this Friday to two former ministers of Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras extradited in April to the United States to stand trial for drug trafficking.
“Nicaraguan nationality is granted to the citizen Ebal Jair Díaz Lupian, originally from the Republic of Honduras (…) he will enjoy the rights and prerogatives that the laws grant him,” indicates a resolution published in La Gaceta, the official newspaper.
Another one was issued for Ricardo Cardona, 60 years old, who was Minister of the Presidency as well as Ebal Díaz, 48, who assumed that position for another period and was considered the former president’s right arm.
Both are accused of corruption and it is unknown if they are in Nicaraguan territory.
Díaz, an evangelical pastor, has been singled out by the independent Honduran National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), oversight body of civil society, of irregularities in its management.
One of the signs responds to a failed social housing project, for victims of hurricanes Eta and Iota, in 2020, known as container houses. He has denied the charges.
“There are ongoing investigations” against Díaz in the Prosecutor’s Office, said the entity’s spokesman, Yuri Mora, without giving details.
“Suspiciously they left the country”
Three other Honduran citizens appear on the list of nationalized citizens. According to the Honduran press, two of them are relatives of former Minister Cardona, whose work has also been questioned by the CNA.
Both officials worked during the administration of former President Hernández, who in April of this year was extradited to New York to be prosecuted for drug trafficking.
“Tony” Hernández, brother of the former president, is serving a life sentence in the United States for the same crime, while former Police Chief Juan Carlos Bonilla was also extradited to the United States, identified as a collaborator of both.
“The State of Honduras has acted very slowly in the case of these former officials and these politicians have suspiciously left the country to ensure their impunity,” political analyst Raúl Pineda told reporters.
“It could have been acted before because there was already information that a group of Honduran politicians had moved to a region of Nicaragua,” he added.
The Nicaraguan government previously granted nationality to former Salvadoran presidents Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez Céren, both accused of corruption in their country.
The government of Daniel Ortega granted Nicaraguan nationality this Friday to two former ministers of Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras extradited in April to the United States to stand trial for drug trafficking.
“Nicaraguan nationality is granted to the citizen Ebal Jair Díaz Lupian, originally from the Republic of Honduras (…) he will enjoy the rights and prerogatives that the laws grant him,” indicates a resolution published in La Gaceta, the official newspaper.
Another one was issued for Ricardo Cardona, 60 years old, who was Minister of the Presidency as well as Ebal Díaz, 48, who assumed that position for another period and was considered the former president’s right arm.
Both are accused of corruption and it is unknown if they are in Nicaraguan territory.
Díaz, an evangelical pastor, has been singled out by the independent Honduran National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), oversight body of civil society, of irregularities in its management.
One of the signs responds to a failed social housing project, for victims of hurricanes Eta and Iota, in 2020, known as container houses. He has denied the charges.
“There are ongoing investigations” against Díaz in the Prosecutor’s Office, said the entity’s spokesman, Yuri Mora, without giving details.
“Suspiciously they left the country”
Three other Honduran citizens appear on the list of nationalized citizens. According to the Honduran press, two of them are relatives of former Minister Cardona, whose work has also been questioned by the CNA.
Both officials worked during the administration of former President Hernández, who in April of this year was extradited to New York to be prosecuted for drug trafficking.
“Tony” Hernández, brother of the former president, is serving a life sentence in the United States for the same crime, while former Police Chief Juan Carlos Bonilla was also extradited to the United States, identified as a collaborator of both.
“The State of Honduras has acted very slowly in the case of these former officials and these politicians have suspiciously left the country to ensure their impunity,” political analyst Raúl Pineda told reporters.
“It could have been acted before because there was already information that a group of Honduran politicians had moved to a region of Nicaragua,” he added.
The Nicaraguan government previously granted nationality to former Salvadoran presidents Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez Céren, both accused of corruption in their country.
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