The mystery over the whereabouts of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, deepened last night when the Presidency refused to disclose where she is.

While claiming that Dame Jonathan is resting and not hospitalised as widely reported in the media, spokesmen for the Presidency kept mute on the woman’s whereabouts, thus indicating that they may be hiding something. Worse, the usually boisterous First Lady who loves to be in the spotlight has yet to make any appearance or issue a statement from wherever she is.

Speaking in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady’s spokesman, admitted to newsmen that she travelled out of the country but denied that she’s been hospitalised for food poisoning in a German hospital.Dame Jonathan, according to Osinlu, is taking a “moment’s rest” at a location abroad which he would not disclose.

Hear Osinlu: “If you look at her itinerary in August, you would be wondering how she was able to accomplish that. In the course of this week, she will be back home. But remember, it all depends on her plans.”

On his part, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, did not help issues when he claimed that Dame Jonathan’s reported illness “was a rumour and there is nothing like that” but yet failed to disclose her whereabouts.

As reported yesterday by News Express and several other Nigerian papers, Dame Jonathan was rushed in an air ambulance to Wiesbaden, Germany, mid-last week for treatment for alleged food poisoning.

There have been unconfirmed reports that she is receiving medical attention at Horst Schmidt Klinik, the same clinic where late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua once received for kidney-related ailments.

*Photo shows Dame Jonathan.