Friday, January 30, 2026 - Stanley Amandi, the Nollywood filmmaker and actor, has been arrested alongside military officers allegedly plotting a violent overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to Premium Times, Amandi, a director and former
chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was
arrested in September 2025, marking the first public disclosure of his alleged
involvement in the foiled plot.
Investigations revealed that the actor was allegedly
recruited by the suspected coup plotters to function as a propagandist, as part
of preparations for what security sources described as a violent takeover of
government.
Government sources earlier briefed on the matter said the
plotters allegedly planned to assassinate top government officials, including
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President
Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas,
among others.
On Monday, the Defence Headquarters officially confirmed
that investigations uncovered a plan to illegally oust the Tinubu
administration, adding that officers indicted in the matter would be arraigned
before military judicial panels.
In a statement, the military said investigations had been
concluded and forwarded to the “appropriate superior authority in line with
extant regulations.”
“The comprehensive investigation, conducted in accordance
with established military procedures, examined all circumstances surrounding
the conduct of the affected personnel,” the statement read.
The Defence Headquarters said findings identified “a number
of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,”
describing such conduct as inconsistent with the ethics and professional
standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Last October, it was reported that 16 military officers were
under investigation for allegedly planning a coup. At the time, the army
dismissed the reports, saying the officers were being investigated for
“indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
However, further investigations reportedly led to the arrest
of additional officers and civilians, including Amandi.
Sources familiar with the probe said the suspects would face
both court-martial proceedings and civil trials, depending on their status.
While serving military officers are expected to be tried
first by military tribunals, civilians implicated in the alleged plot,
including the Nollywood actor, are to be prosecuted in civil courts.
Amandi is a known figure in Nollywood, having worked as an
actor, production manager and director.
His works include The Album (director), Tiger King (director
and producer, 2008), Cornerstone (2019), and Once Upon a Dream (actor, 2024).
His last post on Instagram was dated September 19, 2025,
shortly before his arrest.
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