CRIME
NOLLYWOOD SHOCKER: ENUGU ACTORS GUILD EX-CHAIRMAN, STANLEY AMANDI ARRESTED IN ALLEGED MILITARY COUP PLOT TO OVERTHROW TINUBU, TARGET TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Nollywood filmmaker and actor Stanley Amandi has been arrested alongside a group of military officers accused of plotting a violent overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, in a development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s creative industry and security community.
Mr Amandi, a director and former chairperson of the Enugu State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was reportedly arrested in September 2025. This marks the first time his alleged involvement in the foiled coup plot is being publicly linked to the wider investigation.
Investigations revealed that the actor was allegedly engaged by the coup plotters to function as a propagandist, helping to shape and spread narratives in support of the planned unconstitutional takeover. The alleged plot, according to security sources, went beyond mere agitation and involved plans to assassinate top government officials.
The officers and their civilian collaborators were allegedly preparing for a violent takeover in which key political leaders were marked for elimination. Among those reportedly targeted were 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 formally confirmed the existence of a plot to illegally remove the Tinubu administration from power. Military authorities disclosed that investigations into the matter have been concluded and that the implicated officers will be arraigned before military judicial panels.
In its official statement, the Defence Headquarters said the investigation has been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
The military described the probe as “comprehensive” and conducted strictly in accordance with established procedures, examining “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”
According to the Defence Headquarters, the findings identified “a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” adding that such actions are “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
Initial Arrests and Cover-Up Attempts:
As far back as October last year, reports had emerged that 16 military officers were under investigation over alleged coup planning, although the army at the time maintained that they were only being probed for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
Subsequent findings, however, indicated that more officers and several civilians were later arrested as investigators expanded the scope of the operation.
Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation disclosed that suspects, including senior-ranking military officers, are expected to face prosecution in both military and civil courts.
Under existing procedures, military personnel among the suspects will first be subjected to court martials before any possible civil trials, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot, including Mr Amandi, will be tried in civil courts.
About the Arrested Filmmaker:
Stanley Amandi is a familiar face in Nollywood, with years of experience as an actor, production manager and director. He has featured in, produced, and directed several movies across different genres.
Some of his notable works include “The Album,” where he served as director; “Tiger King,” which he directed and produced in 2008; “Cornerstone,” produced in 2019; and “Once Upon a Dream,” in which he appeared as an actor in 2024.
Observers noted that Mr Amandi’s last Instagram post was made on 19 September 2025, shortly before his arrest.
As investigations continue and prosecutions loom, the unfolding case underscores the gravity of the alleged plot and highlights the expanding net of security agencies as they move to dismantle networks accused of threatening Nige
ria’s constitutional order.