Stanley Amandi

Nollywood actor and director Stanley Amandi has been taken into custody alongside several military officers accused of planning a forceful overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s government.

According to a source in the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Amandi, who is also the former chairman of the AGN, Enugu State chapter, was arrested in September 2025.

The filmmaker was allegedly engaged as a media propagandist by the suspected coup planners, who were said to be working towards the assassination of senior government figures.

Government officials familiar with the investigation had earlier revealed that the accused officers allegedly mapped out a violent seizure of power, with President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas reportedly listed for assassination.

On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the existence of an unlawful plot to unseat the Tinubu administration, adding that the implicated officers would face trial before military judicial panels.

In a statement, the Defence Headquarters said investigations had been concluded and submitted to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.” The military described the probe as “comprehensive,” explaining that it covered “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”

The statement further noted that the inquiry uncovered “a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” stressing that such conduct was “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

Amandi has appeared in and worked behind the scenes on several Nollywood projects, building a career as an actor, director and production manager. His film credits include The Album (director), Tiger King (director and producer, 2008), Cornerstone (2019) and Once Upon a Dream (2024), where he featured as an actor.

His most recent Instagram post was made on September 19, 2025, days before his arrest.