Nollywood actor and director Stanley Amandi has been taken into custody alongside several military officers accused of plotting a forceful overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Amandi, a former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Enugu State chapter, was arrested in September 2025, according to a senior source within the AGN.
Investigators allege that the filmmaker was recruited as a media propagandist by the suspected coup planners, who were said to be coordinating a violent takeover of government and planning the assassination of top political figures.
Government officials familiar with the probe disclosed that those allegedly targeted included President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Monday confirmed the existence of what it described as an unlawful plot to unseat the elected government. It said the implicated officers would face trial before military judicial panels.
In a statement, the DHQ said investigations had been concluded and forwarded to the appropriate superior authority in line with existing military regulations.
The military described the inquiry as comprehensive, noting that it examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel. It added that several officers were found to have credible allegations of involvement in plans to overthrow the government.
According to the DHQ, such actions are “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Amandi has had a long career in Nollywood, working as an actor, director and production manager. His credits include The Album (director), Tiger King (director and producer, 2008), Cornerstone (2019) and Once Upon a Dream (2024), in which he appeared as an actor.
His last post on Instagram was made on September 19, 2025, just days before his arrest.
