Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Veteran Nollywood actor and filmmaker Stanley Amandi has been arrested alongside several serving military officers in connection with an alleged plot to violently overthrow the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The arrest is part of a broader investigation into a suspected conspiracy that security agencies say aimed to undermine Nigeria’s democratic order.
Amandi, who is also a former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was reportedly detained in September 2025 following suspicion of involvement in plans to topple the federal government and install an alternative regime. Investigators allege that he was recruited by the suspected plotters to serve as a propagandist, helping shape narratives and messaging in support of the attempt.
The alleged conspiracy first came to light publicly in late 2025, when Nigerian authorities detained multiple military officers as part of an internal probe. Initially described by officials as an investigation into indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, subsequent inquiries uncovered what the Defence Headquarters described as credible evidence of a plot to illegally remove the Tinubu administration. The comprehensive investigation was completed and its findings forwarded to “appropriate superior authority” consistent with military procedure, the military said.
According to security sources, the foiled plan reportedly included components beyond political mobilisation, with allegations that plotters had considered targeting top government officials, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. The extent and specifics of the threat remain the subject of ongoing scrutiny by both military and civilian prosecutors.
While Stanley Amandi’s role is described as that of a civilian collaborator rather than a direct security operative, his arrest highlights the breadth of authorities’ concerns and the presence of non-military actors in the alleged scheme. As part of the unfolding legal process, serving military personnel implicated in the matter are expected to face court-martial proceedings, while civilians, including Amandi, are to be prosecuted in civil courts in accordance with Nigeria’s legal framework.
Amandi is known for his work as an actor, director and production manager, with credits including The Album, Tiger King, Cornerstone and Once Upon a Dream. Reports say his last activity on social media was in September 2025, shortly before his arrest.
The military’s formal acknowledgment of the alleged coup plot — and its linkage to both uniformed officers and associated civilians — underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the government’s emphasis on preserving constitutional rule. Authorities have framed the subsequent trials as necessary to uphold law and order and to signal that actions deemed incompatible with the values of Nigeria’s democratic system will be addressed through the rule of law.
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