It has been revealed that Nollywood filmmaker and former chairman of the Enugu State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Mr. Stanley Amandi, was arrested alongside military officers who allegedly plotted to topple the President Bola Tinubu Administration.
A viral report by PREMIUM said the actor was arrested last September. The report is shaking Nollywood to its foundation as this is the first time the actor’s alleged complicity in the plot is being made public.
The authoritative online investigative news platform reported that credible military sources claimed that the alleged coup plotters who planned to assassinate top government officials last year recruited Amandi to play the role of a propagandist.
The officers, who allegedly planned a violent takeover of government, had reportedly marked the top government officials for elimination.
Top on the list was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima. Others are the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, among others.
After initial denials, the Defence Headquarters had, on Monday, confirmed the plot to terminate the Tinubu administration, revealing that the indicted officers will be arraigned before a military court.
In a statement, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that the investigation had been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”
The military hierarchy disclosed in the statement that the investigation was “comprehensive” and conducted in line with established procedures, examining “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”
The military disclosed that the findings identified “a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such conduct as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”
PREMIUM TIMES had, last October, reported that 16 officers were being investigated for allegedly planning a coup. But the Army vigorously denied the report, saying that the affected officers were being investigated for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.”
But more officers and civilians would later be arrested for alleged involvement in the matter.
This newspaper further gathered that more officers and civilians were later arrested in connection with the matter.
The influential online newspaper cited sources close to the ongoing investigation, revealing that the suspects, including senior military officers, are expected to be tried in both civil courts and military court martials as investigators close in on the alleged plotters.
Military officers among the suspects will first face court martials before possible civil proceedings, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot, including Mr. Amandi, will be tried in civil courts.
Amandi has featured in many Nollywood movies and is known for his work as an actor, production manager and director.
His notable works include “The Album,” where he served as director; “Tiger King,” where he also served as director and produced in 2008; “Cornerstone,” produced in 2019; and “Once Upon a Dream,” in which he appeared as an actor in 2024.
Amandi’s last Instagram post was on 19 September 2025, shortly before his arrest.
