This installment of PREMIUM TIMES ‘series of exclusive reporting on last year’s failed coup details how a veteran Nollywood actor became involved with suspected coup plotters after developing a friendship with a soldier, before being assigned a propagandist role.
A veteran Nollywood actor who built his career telling fictional stories on screen has found himself at the centre of a sensitive national security investigation after he was allegedly co-opted to help shape public opinions and mobilise support for a planned military takeover of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
His statement to investigators provides a detailed account of how what began as an innocent friendship with a soldier gradually evolved into a series of meetings that culminated in discussions about changing Nigeria’s government through unconstitutional means and assigning civilian roles that would help legitimise a new regime after the anticipated seizure of power.
The account forms part of the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution in the ongoing coup trials of suspects before the General Court Martial and the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It also represents a version of the alleged 2025 coup narratives from Mr Amandi’s point of view shared during interrogation by military investigators.
The actor’s statement emerged from an extensive security investigation that followed intelligence reports received by Nigerian authorities in September 2025 about an alleged conspiracy involving serving and retired military officers as well as civilians said to have been recruited to support different aspects of the operation.
The investigation eventually led to the arraignment of six defendants before the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they are standing trial on 13 charges of treason, terrorism, money laundering and failure to disclose information. The serving military officers are facing charges stemming from the alleged coup at the General Court Martial.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported that investigators believe the alleged conspirators were planning to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration while targeting several of Nigeria’s highest-ranking public officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, service chiefs and senior commanders of the Guards Brigade.
Investigators also believe that while some members of the alleged network were responsible for military planning, logistics and financing, others were assigned entirely different responsibilities, including influencing public opinion, coordinating celebrations and projecting legitimacy for a new government if the operation succeeded.
It was within that broader plan, investigators say, that Mr Amandi’s alleged role became significant.
According to his statement, Mr Amandi never imagined that a casual encounter after mentoring young filmmakers in Enugu, Enugu State in South-east Nigeria, would eventually place him under investigation for one of Nigeria’s most serious criminal allegations.
Mr Amandi told investigators that he first met a soldier identified simply as Warrant Officer Nas during a gathering of filmmakers held at Newberries Park, National Museum, Enugu. He painted the encounter with Mr Nas as a chance meeting but he did not state whether he knew or not that he was sought out for.
After delivering a talk to aspiring actors, guests stayed behind to socialise and take photographs, during which the soldier approached him for a picture.
What appeared to be an ordinary meeting quickly developed into a friendship.
“I saw a gentleman in him and we became friends,” the actor recalled.
Although he admitted he had always been uncomfortable around military personnel, he said Warrant Officer Nas gradually won his confidence and repeatedly invited him to visit the military barracks in Enugu.
Those visits, according to his statement, became increasingly frequent.
He said he was warmly received by soldiers, introduced to several officers and eventually became so familiar with life inside the barracks that he would spend long hours watching football matches, badminton games and even joining soldiers for table tennis.
“I now started seeing the barracks as my home,” he told investigators.
The relationship took a different turn several months later when Mr Nas informed him that a senior military officer, Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, was organising a Ramadan breaking-of-fast gathering in Abuja and wanted him to attend.
Initially, the actor declined because he was occupied with a film production.
However, according to his statement, Mr Ma’aji personally telephoned him two days later to persuade him to honour the invitation.
His flight was booked, and he travelled to Abuja alongside Mr Nas and the officer’s girlfriend who was identified as Cynthia.
He recalled arriving at Mr Ma’aji’s residence to find an atmosphere typical of Ramadan gatherings, with prayers, food and social interactions among invited guests.
Nothing during the event, he said, suggested that he was about to become involved in discussions that investigators now describe as part of an alleged coup conspiracy.
After the Ramadan event ended, the actor said he became tired and requested to return to his hotel.
Instead, Mr Nas insisted they wait until they had spoken with Mr Ma’aji.
Moments later, rather than returning to their accommodation, they joined a convoy of vehicles that travelled to another hotel in Abuja.
Inside one of the rooms, several men were already seated.
At first, the atmosphere remained relaxed. People laughed, exchanged stories and continued socialising.
