Security agencies have arrested Nollywood filmmaker and actor Stanley Amandi in connection with an alleged plot to violently remove President Bola Tinubu from office.
Amandi, a former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) in Enugu State, was taken into custody in September 2025, though his arrest only recently became public.
Investigators say he was apprehended alongside several military officers accused of orchestrating a foiled coup attempt against the current administration.
Sources familiar with the investigation allege that the filmmaker was recruited to play a propaganda and messaging role for the plotters, as part of broader preparations for what authorities describe as an attempted forceful takeover of government.
Government officials previously briefed on the case claimed the suspects intended to assassinate senior political figures, 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 (DHQ) confirmed that its investigations had uncovered a plan aimed at unlawfully overthrowing the government. The military disclosed that officers implicated in the case would be subjected to military judicial processes.
In a statement, the DHQ said investigations had been completed 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 said.
According to the military, the findings identified “a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such actions as incompatible with the professional ethics and standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The case follows reports from October 2024 indicating that 16 military officers were under investigation for alleged coup-related activities. At the time, the Nigerian Army downplayed the reports, stating the officers were being probed for issues related to indiscipline and breaches of service rules.
However, subsequent investigations reportedly expanded the scope of the probe, leading to the arrest of additional officers and civilians, including Amandi.
Sources say suspects who are serving military personnel will first face court-martial proceedings, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot are expected to be prosecuted in civil courts.
Amandi is a well-known figure in Nigeria’s film industry, having worked as an actor, director, and production manager.
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His film credits include The Album (director), Tiger King (director/producer, 2008), Cornerstone (2019), and Once Upon a Dream (actor, 2024).
His last activity on Instagram was recorded on September 19, 2025, just days before his reported arrest.
