The Nigerian film industry was jolted by controversy during the week following reports that actor, filmmaker and former chairman of the Enugu State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Stanley Amandi, had been arrested over his alleged link to a failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Saturday Beats gathered that Amandi was arrested in Enugu alongside several serving military officers connected to the alleged plot. His family and associates initially believed he was in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), before the agency later formally informed them that he was being held by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Sources disclosed that the actor’s family subsequently contacted the DIA, requesting access for his wife, legal counsel and medical doctor, citing concerns over his health condition, as he is reportedly hypertensive.
According to findings referenced by Premium Times, Amandi is alleged to have played a role in the media and messaging aspect of the plot. Investigators reportedly suspect that he was positioned as a propagandist, tasked with shaping public narratives capable of justifying or promoting an unconstitutional takeover, thereby making him a civilian collaborator in what authorities have described as a grave national security breach.
Details of the alleged coup attempt first emerged months ago following discreet arrests within the military. However, a more detailed account of how the plot was uncovered later surfaced in an investigative report by Premium Times.
The report stated that the plan began to unravel after a concerned military officer alerted senior leadership to suspicious meetings and discussions allegedly pointing to an attempt to overthrow the government. Around the same time, intelligence reportedly gathered by the State Security Service indicated that some officers were exploring ways to destabilise Nigeria’s democratic order.
Investigations allegedly revealed a wider network of collaborators and plans that extended beyond a seizure of power. The report further claimed that discussions included possible assassination plots targeting top political figures, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.
Security agencies subsequently carried out coordinated arrests across different locations to prevent the alleged plot from advancing. What was initially viewed in official circles as routine disciplinary matters reportedly escalated into a full-scale national security investigation.
As legal proceedings continue, the case has attracted widespread public attention, not only due to its political implications but also because of the unusual involvement of a prominent figure from the entertainment industry in an alleged plot of such magnitude.
