A Nollywood filmmaker and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Stanley Amandi, has been arrested over his alleged involvement in a plot to violently overthrow the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Amandi, a director and former chairperson of the Enugu State chapter of the AGN, was reportedly arrested in September 2025 alongside several military officers accused of planning a coup. This marks the first public disclosure of details regarding the actor’s alleged role in the plot.
Amandi was allegedly recruited as a civilian propagandist by the suspected plotters, who were said to be working to destabilise the government and influence public opinion ahead of the planned takeover.
Investigators further alleged that the plot involved plans targeting top government officials, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Earlier this week, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations into the alleged coup attempt had been concluded. In a statement, the military said officers implicated in the plot would be arraigned before military judicial panels, describing their alleged actions as inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The military also disclosed that the investigation identified “a number of officers” connected to the alleged attempt to illegally remove the government.
The alleged plot first became public in October 2025, when reports surfaced that at least 16 officers were under investigation. At the time, the Nigerian Army said the probe was linked to issues of indiscipline and breach of service regulations.
Further reports indicated that additional suspects, both military personnel and civilians, were later arrested. Trials are expected to proceed through court-martial proceedings for military officers and civil courts for civilians, including Amandi.
The arrested filmmaker is a familiar figure in Nollywood, having worked as an actor, production manager and director. His film credits include The Album, Tiger King, Cornerstone, and Once Upon a Dream. His last known social media activity was reportedly in September 2025, shortly before his arrest.
Elijah Adeyemi
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