Former Nigerian Military dictator,Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida reportedly hospitalized in Germany.

 Former Nigerian military dictator, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, is seriously sick and hospitalized in a Germany, several sources in Nigeria have disclosed.Sources, who are based in the retired general’s home state, Niger State, or Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, revealed that the former army general, who is popularly called “IBB,” was rushed to Germany 10 days ago from his hilltop mansion in Minna, the capital of Niger State.

One of the sources said the former general, who ruled Nigeria as a military “president” from 1985 to 1993, was severely sick and in grave condition. “He may be dying,” said the source. However, another source, a political associate of Mr. Babangida’s, denied that the former general’s condition was terminal. According to this source, the former dictator had undergone surgery to alleviate a perennial but worsening back problem. “He is not at the point of death. In fact, he is getting better,” the source added.

Meanwhile, the Presidency in Abuja says that President Goodluck Jonathan plans to pay a visit to the ailing ex-general in his hospital room in Germany. Mr. Jonathan, who departed Nigeria on his way to the annual United Nations General Assembly, was expected to stop in Germany later today to see Mr. Babangida.

In a press statement released from the President's office earlier today, Mr. Jonathan’s handlers claimed that he planned to spend one day in London for a private visit. However, the purpose of Mr. Jonathan’s one-day layover was to enable him to pay a secret visit to Babangida in Germany.

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Mr. Babangida’s ailment is related to a chronic back ailment for which he had had prior surgeries in Germany.

Mr. Babangida was born on August 17, 1941. His tenure as president is associated with massive corruption and looting, but also economic programs to liberalize the Nigerian economy and institute free market ideas. He came to political notoriety by annulling the June 12, 1993 presidential election, won decisively by Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, a businessman who was a close friend of his.