Nollywood Actor Stanley Amandi Arrested Over Alleged Coup Plot Against President Tinubu

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 sources within the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Amandi, a former chairman of the AGN Enugu State chapter, was arrested in September 2025. He is alleged to have been engaged as a media propagandist by the suspected coup planners, who reportedly aimed to target senior government officials.

Government insiders revealed that the accused military officers had 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 as potential targets for assassination.

On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the existence of the unlawful plot, stating that the implicated officers would face trial before military judicial panels. The statement described the investigation as “comprehensive,” covering “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel” and noting that such actions were “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

Amandi has had a long-standing career in Nollywood 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), in which he appeared as an actor. His last activity on social media was an Instagram post on September 19, 2025, just days before his arrest.

As investigations conclude, both Amandi and the military officers face serious legal proceedings that could significantly impact Nigeria’s entertainment and security sectors.