We Didn’t Know Stanley Amandi Was Arrested for Coup Plot -AGN
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has confirmed that it was informed by the family of member Stanley Amandi regarding his detention, but was unaware of the allegations against him until recent reports emerged.
On Friday, it was widely reported that Amandi, a former chairman of the AGN’s Enugu state chapter, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of President Bola Tinubu.
Stanley Amandi
Reports of a possible coup attempt first surfaced in October 2025, following the federal government’s cancellation of the parade for the country’s 65th independence anniversary.
The defence headquarters (DHQ) at the time dismissed any link between the parade cancellation and a coup plot. It also stated that the arrests of some officers were unrelated.
But on October 31, 16 military officers were arrested over the alleged coup attempt, while two other officers were on the run.
Amandi was among civilians reportedly arrested last September.
,Emeka Rollas, the AGN outgoing national president, and his successor Abubakar Yakubu acknowledged the guild’s prior knowledge of the detention.
Rollas stated that an official statement would be issued shortly.
Yakubu, on the other hand, provided further detail, explaining that the Amandi family alerted the AGN last year about his arrest.
He said the guild initially believed it to be a matter handled by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Yakubu emphasised that, due to the sensitivity of the matter, the AGN is carefully deliberating before taking an official position.
“AGN does not have any stance yet. The news came to us just like every other person. We are just analyzing it yet. You know, it is a sensitive national issue,” he said.
“When Stanley was in detention, we tried a little effort. When the family cried to us that they picked him up since last year, we made some little efforts, but we did not know he was involved in a coup like that.
“We thought it was an ordinary case or something. We tried to reach out, but we did not get a prompt response. We even thought it was DSS.
“DSS said he was not in their detention, and that it was the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). Before this news broke. And we did not know it was linked to a coup like that.”The indicted officers, we heard, will be court-martialed, while the civilians involved will be tried in civil courts.
