Nollywood filmmaker and actor Stanley Amandi has been arrested over his alleged involvement in a coup plot linked to some serving and retired Nigerian military officers, according to an investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES.
Amandi, a well-known director and former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Enugu State chapter, was reportedly taken into custody in September 2025. Until recently, however, little was publicly known about the circumstances surrounding his arrest or the specific role investigators believe he played in the alleged plot.
Sources familiar with the investigation disclosed that Amandi was allegedly recruited by members of the suspected network to function as a propagandist. Investigators believe his role was to help shape public narratives, disseminate strategic messaging, and possibly influence public opinion in support of a planned unconstitutional change of government aimed at removing President Bola Tinubu’s administration from power.
Security sources said the alleged plot involved both military and civilian collaborators, raising serious national security concerns and prompting a wide-ranging investigation by defence and intelligence authorities. The probe reportedly examined communication trails, financial transactions, and coordination efforts among the suspects.
The Defence Headquarters has since confirmed that investigations into the alleged coup plot have been concluded. In a statement, the military authorities described the conduct of the implicated officers as a grave violation of the ethics, discipline, and professional standards of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
According to the Defence Headquarters, military personnel linked to the alleged plot will face court-martial proceedings before appropriate military judicial panels. The outcome of these panels will determine further disciplinary or legal actions in line with military law.
Civilians connected to the case, including Stanley Amandi, are expected to be prosecuted in civil courts in accordance with Nigerian law. Authorities have maintained that due process will be followed and that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The development has sparked widespread reactions across the entertainment industry and political circles, with many calling for transparency in the judicial process, while others stress the need to safeguard democratic governance and constitutional order in Nigeria.