Coup plot: Nollywood actor Stanley Amandi arrested for alleged media role
Stanley Amandi a prominent Nollywood director and actor has been arrested alongside several military officers who were indicted of planning to stage a coup to topple the government of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) said he was arrested in September 2025. Sources say that Amandi was arrested over an alleged media propagandist role in the coup plan.
According to reports, President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas were targeted for assassination in the power seizure conspiracy.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters on Monday said it had identified a number of officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government in their investigation.
The DHQ had in October announced the arrest of 16 officers over acts of indiscipline and breaches of service regulations, with rumours and reports of secret meetings held by the said officers to topple the government flying across the new media space at the time.
The DHQ had however dispelled the rumours, stating that the arrest of the officers was consistent with routine internal processes of the army aimed at ensuring discipline and professionalism within the ranks.
The new Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, giving an update on Monday January 26 regarding the investigation, disclosed that a comprehensive investigation had been conducted, with some officers having to stand trial over coup allegations.
The statement read in part: “The comprehensive investigation process, conducted in accordance with established military procedures, has carefully examined all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.
“The findings have identified a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, which is inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the AFN.”
The statement added that those indicted would be arraigned before military judicial panels, noting that the measures being taken were disciplinary in nature, to preserve order and operational effectiveness.
“Accordingly, those with cases to answer will be formally arraigned before appropriate military judicial panels to face trial in accordance with the Armed Forces Act and other applicable service regulations. This ensures accountability while upholding the principles of fairness and due process,” it said.
