A prominent Nollywood filmmaker was arrested as part of an alleged military plot to assassinate President Bola Tinubu and seize power, it has emerged.
Stanley Amandi, a well-known director and former regional head of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), was reportedly detained alongside several military officers in September 2025.
Investigators allege that Mr. Amandi was recruited by the conspirators to serve as a “propagandist” for the new regime, tasked with managing public perception following a violent takeover.
A ‘marked’ leadership
Details of the plot, which are only now becoming public, suggest a far more violent plan than initially reported. According to government sources, the conspirators had marked Nigeria’s entire top leadership for “elimination.”
The alleged target list included:
- President Bola Tinubu
- Vice-President Kashim Shettima
- Senate President Godswill Akpabio
- Speaker of the House Tajudeen Abbas
The Defence Headquarters confirmed on Monday that its investigation into the illegal attempt to oust the administration is now complete. Indicted officers are set to face military judicial panels, while civilians like Mr Amandi are expected to be tried in civil courts.
‘Inconsistent with ethics’
The military has described the conduct of the accused officers as “inconsistent with the ethics, values, and professional standards” of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
While the army initially claimed the arrests last October were related to “indiscipline and breach of service regulations,” it has now admitted that a “comprehensive” probe identified a group of officers actively plotting to overthrow the government.
Sources familiar with the investigation told Premium Times that the suspects—including several senior officers—will face court-martials before any potential civil proceedings.
The Filmmaker’s Role
Stanley Amandi is a veteran of the Nigerian film industry, known for directing and producing movies such as The Album and Tiger King. His arrest has sent shockwaves through Nollywood, an industry rarely associated with high-stakes political insurgency.
His last social media activity was recorded on 19 September 2025, just days before he was taken into custody. It is alleged his role would have involved using his production expertise to craft messages justifying the coup to the Nigerian public and the international community.
Analysis: A rare civilian link
By Segun Ojumu,
In Nigeria’s long history of coups, the plotters have almost always been soldiers. The inclusion of a Nollywood figure suggests a modern, media-conscious approach to the “art of the coup.”
The conspirators seemingly understood that in the age of social media, controlling the narrative is as important as controlling the barracks. However, for the Nigerian government, the discovery of such a high-level “hit list” underscores the persistent fragility of the country’s democratic transition. All eyes will now be on the transparency of the upcoming court-martials.
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