Official: Nigeria first lady hospitalized abroad

[September 04, 2012]  ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) -- The wife of Nigeria's president remains hospitalized in Germany following a severe bout of food poisoning that's lasted for days, a government official said Tuesday.

A government official told The Associated Press that Patience Jonathan fell sick about 10 days ago, following her hosting a summit of first ladies from across Africa. As her case of food poisoning worsened, she was flown to Germany for medical treatment, the official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity as information about Jonathan's illness had yet to be officially made public, despite numerous newspaper reports and rumors circulating on the Internet. Ayo Osinlu, a spokesman for the first lady, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

President Goodluck Jonathan has made no public comments about his wife's health.

[Associated Press; By BASHIR ADIGUN and JON GAMBRELL]

Jon Gambrell report from Lagos, Nigeria. He can be reached at http://twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

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