Nigerian Senator Arrested in Saudi Arabia after False Claims

Senator Hassan Barata has been arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities and he is currently in detention.

According to sources on the ground, when he was arrested and quizzed, he claimed to be an employee of the Nigerian Embassy but his claim was later found to be false.....

The senator, who is believed to have traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia few weeks ago, may have overstayed when he was picked up.

Senator Barata, a former Chairman Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, represented Adamawa South in the 6th Senate, having been elected in 2011 on the ticket of the PDP.

He was believed to be holding an official passport on the trip.

Recall that the Federal Government has directed the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to retrieve diplomatic and official passports from all persons who are not entitled to hold such documents.