Nigeria’s film industry has been drawn into controversy following reports that Nollywood actor and filmmaker Stanley Amandi was arrested in connection with an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Amandi, a former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was reportedly arrested in Enugu along with several serving military officers suspected of involvement in the plot. At first, his family and associates believed he had been taken into custody by the Department of State Services. However, they were later officially informed that he was being detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Sources disclosed that the actor’s family has formally contacted the DIA to request access for his wife, legal representative, and a medical doctor. The request was reportedly made due to concerns about his health, as he is known to suffer from hypertension.
Investigative findings suggest that Amandi’s alleged involvement was not operational but strategic. According to reports, authorities believe he played a role in managing media messaging connected to the coup attempt. He is suspected of being positioned as a civilian collaborator tasked with shaping public narratives that could legitimise or support an unconstitutional change of government.
Information about the alleged coup attempt reportedly surfaced months earlier following discreet arrests within the military. Further details later emerged through investigative reporting, revealing how the plot was uncovered.
The scheme reportedly began to unravel after a concerned military officer alerted senior leadership about suspicious meetings and discussions that suggested plans to overthrow the government. Around the same time, intelligence agencies allegedly confirmed that certain officers were exploring ways to destabilise Nigeria’s democratic order.
Investigations are said to have exposed a wider network of collaborators and plans that went beyond a takeover of power. The alleged plot reportedly included discussions about assassinating top political figures, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas.
In response, security agencies carried out coordinated arrests across multiple locations to prevent the plan from progressing. What initially appeared to be routine disciplinary matters within the military reportedly evolved into a major national security investigation.
As legal proceedings continue, the case has attracted significant public attention due to its political implications and the rare involvement of a prominent figure from the entertainment industry in allegations of this scale.
