Amandi, a director and former chairperson of the Enugu State Chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, was arrested in September 2025.

The actor’s last Instagram post was on 19 September, shortly before his arrest.

The actor’s alleged role in the coup plot was broken by Premium Times.

The actor was allegedly hired to play the role of a propagandist by the alleged coupists who planned to assassinate top government officials last year.

The officers allegedly planned a violent takeover in which the top government officials were marked for elimination.

Government sources briefed on the plot told thd publication last year that the alleged plotters planned to assassinate President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shetima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, among others.

On Monday, the Defence Headquarters confirmed the plan to illegally oust the Tinubu administration, saying the indicted officers will be arraigned before military judicial panels.

In its statement, the Defence Headquarters said the investigation has been completed and forwarded to “appropriate superior authority in line with extant regulations.”

According to the military, the investigation was “comprehensive” and conducted in line with established procedures, examining “all circumstances surrounding the conduct of the affected personnel.”

The military disclosed that the findings identified “a number of the officers with allegations of plotting to overthrow the government,” describing such conduct as “inconsistent with the ethics, values and professional standards required of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Last October, 16 officers were being investigated for allegedly planning a coup, although the army claimed they were being investigated for “indiscipline and breach of service regulations.

This publication further gathered that more officers and civilians were later arrested in connection with the matter.

Sources familiar with the ongoing investigation said the suspects, including senior military officers, are expected to be tried in both civil courts and military court martials as investigators close in on the alleged plotters.

Military officers among the suspects will first face court martials before possible civil proceedings, while civilians implicated in the alleged plot, including Mr Amandi, will be tried in civil courts.

Mr Amandi has featured in many Nollywood movies and is known for his work as an actor, production manager and director.

His notable works include “The Album,” where he served as director; “Tiger King,” where he also served as director and produced in 2008; “Cornerstone,” produced in 2019; and “Once Upon a Dream,” in which he appeared as an actor in 2024.

In a separate, deliberate operation at Garno terrorist camp, troops of Sector 1 further degraded terrorist capabilities by neutralizing 6 terrorists, destroying their life-support structures, and recovering a huge cache of PKT anti aircraft ammunition.

In a related development, troops of Sector 2 OPHK at Sabon Gari were also confronted with an ISWAP attack supported by multiple armed drones in the early hours of 29 January 2025. Although the terrorists briefly breached a part of the defensive location, the gallant troops swiftly repelled the assault, held their ground, and restored full control with timely reinforcement from nearby locations.

Regrettably, some courageous troops and members of the Civilian Joint Task Force paid the supreme price in the course of defending the location, while an excavator and lowbed also got damaged as a result of the armed drone attack. Exploitation of the area is ongoing as operations continue to deny terrorists freedom of action.

The court barred Turaki and others from parading themselves as national officers of the PDP.

The court also ruled that Caretaker Committee led by Abdulrahman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu is the only recognised NWC of the PDP pending the conduct of a valid National Convention.

*More to follow

Oba Ladoja gave the assurance in a remark while playing host to the management team of CRIN whom he invited to deliberate on the possibility of establishing a modern cocoa plantation, that can stand the test of time, through modern agricultural technologies and techniques.

The monarch, who expressed gratitude to the management of CRIN for honouring his invitation, said the ancient city must take advantage of its vast land and closeness to cocoa experts in the city to create a vast economy in the interest of the residents.

Ladoja said: “We are lucky to be in the forest region where cocoa plantation can thrive considering our favourable climatic condition, and many agricultural experts surrounding us, particularly the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria.

“On our part, we will make acres of land readily available and source for the needed logistics to ensure the smooth take off of the project to its successful completion.”

Speaking earlier, the Acting Executive Director of CRIN, Dr Adedeji Rasheed, thanked the Olubadan and his council members for the opportunity given the institute to play its role in the agricultural development of Ibadan land and Oyo State as a whole.

He noted that the agricultural plans of the Olubadan of Ibadan land will be successfully implemented as desired.

Adedeji requested for necessary logistics such as expanse of land, farm imputes and other necessary resources for the implementation of the project.

The agreement, signed in Lagos by the Provost of the University of Birmingham, Professor Nick Vaughan-Williams, and the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, sets the stage for the development of Birmingham-validated academic programmes to be delivered in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the partnership as timely and strategic, noting that it aligns with the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its tertiary education system and broaden access to world-class learning opportunities.

According to him, “The collaboration will consolidate gains in Nigeria’s university sector while integrating global best practices in teaching, research, and innovation.

“This partnership reflects academic excellence, innovation, and global relevance. It is a practical demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda, translating vision into measurable outcomes for students, institutions, and national development,” the minister said.

Under the agreement, both universities, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Ministry of Education, will develop proposals for a Transnational Education Unit to be based in Lagos, with the ambition to commence programme delivery from 2027, subject to further approvals.

Proposed programme areas include Applied Artificial Intelligence and Digital Communications and Media, reflecting emerging skills needs in the digital economy.

Professor Vaughan-Williams said the University of Birmingham was proud to deepen its partnership with UNILAG, stressing that the collaboration builds on existing academic and research links between both institutions.

He noted that, “The university is committed to supporting Nigeria’s talent development and economic growth through education, research, and innovation.

“We are a global civic university committed to supporting Nigeria’s tertiary education and talent needs, as well as its ambitions for a growing economy. We look forward to making a positive contribution to Nigerian society and its development through working with partners to support the development of future nation builders,” he re-emphadised.

On her part, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola described the MoU as a historic milestone in Nigeria–UK academic relations, recalling that the partnership between both institutions has evolved over more than a decade through joint research initiatives, particularly in global surgery.

She said the proposed transnational education framework would provide an accessible pathway to globally relevant curricula while enabling students to benefit from the strengths of both universities without leaving Nigeria.

“This partnership will produce graduates who are globally competent yet deeply attuned to the needs of our society. It opens new research frontiers and strengthens access to global academic networks,” she said.

The UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jonny Baxter, said the partnership highlights the potential of UK–Nigeria collaboration to expand access to world-class education and strengthen innovation in critical fields such as Artificial Intelligence.

He added that, “The collaboration would enhance joint research, academic exchange, and skills development for young people in Nigeria.”

The University of Birmingham has also contributed significantly to Nigeria through research and innovation projects, including its Global Surgery Unit Nigeria Hub, renewable energy installations in teaching hospitals, and ongoing research on maternal healthcare and women’s lived experiences.

The retirees in their hundreds today stormed the Governor’s office and House of Assembly located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, calling on the both the state executives and legislative arms of Ogun State to have mercy on them.

The protesters carried placards with inscription such as, ‘We don’t want CPS, please help us to stop it. We are pleading’, urging the authorities for deferment of the contributory pension scheme implementation.

Led by Omopariola Oluwole, the retirees pointed out that many of them served the Ogun state government and lamented that the transition to the contributory pension scheme left them unprepared, vulnerable and exposed to severe hardship, regretting that they now receive amount grossly inadequate to meet basic survival needs

‘Sir, imagine someone who had received a monthly salary of above N450,000 when in service to now start receiving about N60,000 in a month. The situation has become distressing and life-threatening’, they lamented.

‘Especially for retirees who exited service from 2nd July 2025 to date. The scheme, as currently implemented, has brought untold tears, anxiety, and sorrow to many households. Furthermore, the palliative reportedly approved for those affected has not adequately reached many of the supposedly beneficiaries, thereby worsening our plights’.

The association emphasized that many retirees can no longer afford daily meals or basic necessities, stressing that medical care has become inaccessible, even for those battling with chronic illnesses and on lifelong medications.

“Some of us retirees are unable to pay school fees for our children, especially those who married late or experienced delays in child bearing. We are unable to support our aged parents and dependent relatives,” they said.

The protesters added that these painful realities have led to the untimely deaths of some of their colleagues, stressing that many of them now live in penury and abject poverty.

“The shame, ridicule and emotional trauma we endure daily from our inability to meet our basic obligations have weakened us physically, emotionally and psychologically. We humbly confess, that many of us did not prepare for this sudden policy shift, ” they said.

They explained that they planned their retirement around defined benefit scheme and not contributory pension scheme, adding that many retirees cannot afford prescribed drugs, hospital bills or routine medical check ups

‘Your Excellency Sir, it is now crystal clear why at the Federal level, the Nigeria Police agitated for exit from the scheme, likewise some people occupying special offices that have carefully exited themselves from this killer pension scheme because they know its aftermath effect’

The protesters called on the Ogun state government on shifting the full implementation of the contributory pension scheme to a later date to allow adequate planning, remittance of outstandings deductions, and proper funding of retirement savings accounts

‘’Your Excellency, deferring the contributory pension scheme implementation, will give this government sufficient time to resolve unremitted contributions, pay accrued rights, and ensure transparency and growth of retirement savings accounts.

‘This will restore confidence, dignity and hope to current and future retirees. We firmly believe in your legacy as a compassionate, listening and worker-friendly Governor. We trust that you will once again demonstrate your fatherly care by rescuing us from this desperate situation and restoring our hope of living.

‘We shall remain eternally grateful for your merciful consideration and kind intervention. History will remember this noble act, and our prayers will continually rise for you and your administration. Please sir, have mercy on us’.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday said his administration will continue to support the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for economic growth.

He said the Lagos State Government is not averse to investment, and therefore it will do more than what is expected to encourage investments in technology, communication and key sectors for economic growth.

Sanwo-Olu spoke during a courtesy visit by the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), led by its Chairman, Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, at Lagos House, Marina.

Sanwo-Olu described NCC as one of the foremost forward-looking Federal Government commissions in Nigeria. He commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing men and women of impeccable character to lead NCC to give growth and direction to a very strong enabler of Nigeria’s economy, which is the communication industry.

He said: “We will be expecting so much from this sector. It is a very strong service industry that we believe will be one of the very deep growth paths that can also help us deepen the GDP of our country.

“This is a national assignment and we want to ensure that Lagos can be used as a very strong demonstration and a test point to push development as even as possible to every nooks and crannies of this country. We believe there has to be fairness and purposeful governance all around.

“We will continue to support NCC. I can assure you that we will do more than what is expected. We are not a government that would be averse to investment. Technology, communication and the rest of it are the next growth paths that we want to be part of. We can use technology as a strong enabler to do a lot of catch-up.”

Speaking earlier, Idris Olorunnimbe described Governor Sanwo-Olu as his mentor, saying his first experience in the public service board was presented to him by the Governor to serve on the board of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.

Olorunnimbe said Sanwo-Olu is the first person the new Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) would be visiting after inauguration, noting that Lagos is very important and crucial to NCC operation.

He said: “I am here, and I owe a service and a duty to Lagos State that Lagos must work. There are parts of Lagos that are unserved and underserved. And some of these places are not very commercially viable for the operators because every time they put infrastructure, the consideration is, ‘How will it generate its money back?’

“We would like the Lagos State Government to blaze the trail amongst the other states in Nigeria to grant free right of way in some of those areas in Lagos so that we can use that as an incentive to get the operators to go to those communities and those places.

“We will work with the Commissioner and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) to design this and implement it and use it as our pilot as we go to other states.”

I was at the Yaba Magistrate Court, where Comrades Hassan Taiwo Soweto and Dele Frank, also known as Arole Fela, are being arraigned on frivolous charges for participating in a protest against the demolitions of informal communities in Lagos State on Wednesday.

On the instruction of Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto (Organising Committee Member, #EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos Chapter), I have been authorised to give a preliminary account of his ordeal since he was arrested by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Jimoh Moshood and his men, in what was clearly a vindictive attempt to destabilise yesterday’s protest, driven by a personal grievance against him, Soweto.

Soweto was forcibly dragged into the Lagos State House of Assembly complex by the CP’s men. Once inside, the Commissioner himself began to scream obscenities and berating him for publicly accusing the police of killing babies and innocent people. He was beaten repeatedly. Boots were used on his face. Soweto said when the CP realised that he (Soweto) had recognised him as one of his assailants, he ordered his men to remove Soweto’s clothes, blindfold him with the torn fabric, and restrain his hands.

It is instructive that the same Assembly premises to which peaceful protesters were denied access for dialogue was where the Commissioner and his men dragged Comrade Soweto to assault him.

Soweto narrated, and I quote:
“The CP began to beat me up immediately I was dragged into Alausa. When he realised I could see and recognise him among those assaulting me, he ordered his men to tear my shirt and blindfold me with it. They continued beating me until they decided to move me into a van and take me to Panti.”

He said at Panti, officers attempted to subject him to forced medical treatment. He was held down while a nurse was invited to forcibly inject him and administer medication without his consent. Soweto said he resisted, forcing the nurse to back off. He also said he warned that he would report her to her professional union if she attempted to treat him without his consent.

He said the police then attempted to compel him to write a statement. He refused, insisting on access to his lawyer.

Soweto said he was was denied access to his lawyer, his family, and members of the public who sought to see him. This explains why civil society actors who searched for him across multiple police stations yesterday were met with deliberate denial and feigned ignorance of his whereabouts, including at the CP’s office.

Realising that they were acting outside the law at Panti, the Commissioner and his men attempted a rushed arraignment. Soweto was transferred into a van and driven at breakneck speed to the Ogba Magistrate Court. The court had already closed, despite their plea that he be arraigned regardless of the time.

They returned him to Panti.

Soweto has confirmed that during the assault, the police broke his eyeglasses, leaving him partially blind. His sneakers were also seized. He was subsequently arraigned at the Yaba Magistrate Court without footwear and in his underwear.

I have also been informed by Soweto that while assaulting him, the police named me as another target for brutality, referencing my engagement at the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 15, 2026, where I challenged the illegal demolitions in Makoko and refused intimidation by police officers and the DPO attached to the Assembly axis. They described my attire and the glasses I wore yesterday, repeatedly expressing regret that they had not abducted me during the chaos they deliberately engineered, stating that they would have dealt with me as well.

For the record, the EndBadGovernance Movement, Lagos Chapter, previously secured a court victory in 2025 against the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for his role in brutalising and torturing peaceful protesters who commemorated the fourth anniversary of the EndSARS massacre at the Lekki Tollgate. A judgment of ₦10 million was awarded to the victims. The Commissioner and his men have yet to comply with that ruling.

This background offers critical insight into the targeted nature of the attack on Comrade Soweto.

On a lighter note, while confined in the cell, Comrade Arole Fela, who bears a striking resemblance to the legendary Afrobeat musician, treated fellow detainees to music and spirited gyration. The police officers, unfortunately for them, could only watch from outside. Oppression never pays. We will continue to fight back.

• Zikora Ibeh is Asst. Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA)

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The two men face a five-count charge in the suit, Commissioner of Police Vs Taiwo Hassan a.k.a Soweto ‘M’ Adult and 2. Dele Frank, filed at the Ikeja magistrate court.

The men were arrested while participating in the protest staged by displaced residents of Makoko and civil society groups aligned to their cause.

The charges read:

Count I: That you Taiwo Hassan A.k.a Soweto ‘M’, Dele Frank ‘M’ and others still at Large, on the 28’h day of January, 2026 at Ikeja Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: conduct likely to cause breach of peace, threatening, violence, unlawful assembly and obstructing the free flow of traffic and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 411 of the Criminal Laws Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

COUNT II: That you Taiwo Hassan a.k.a Soweto ‘M’, Dele Frank ‘M’ and others still at Large on the 28th day of January,2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District district, threatened to harm members of public who fail to join the protest against Lagos State Government and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

COUNT III: That you Taiwo Hassan A.k.a Soweto ‘M’, Dele Frank ‘M’ and others still at Large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District district conducted yourselves in a manner to cause the breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 57 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

COUNT IV: That you Taiwo Hassan A.k.a Soweto ‘M’, Dele Frank ‘M’ and others still at Large on the 28th day of January, 2026 at lkeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District do obstruct the flow of traffic by blocking the public high way with vehicle carrying public address system and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 57 (C)the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

COUNT V:That you Taiwo Hassan A.k.a Soweto ‘M’, Dele Frank ‘M’ and others still at Large on the 28th day of January,2026 at Ikeja, Allen Avenue, Alausa and the House of Assembly premises, Lagos within the aforementioned Magisterial District sing abusive song against the police and the Lagos State Government with intent to provoke and tarnish the image of the Lagos State Government and thereby commit an offence punishable under section 57 (C)of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

However the Agency did not close down any company that makes alcohol.

A statement from NAFDAC said the Agency only banned the sale of alcohol in sachet and small containers less than 200ml.

Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC said the ban is not punitive; but it is protective.

“It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes. The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth, ” she said.

The statement reads,

The ban on sale of satchets, ordered by the Nigerian Senate and backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, underscores the Agencys statutory mandate to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable populationsparticularly children, adolescents, and young adultsfrom the harmful use of alcohol.

The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers less than 200 ml has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and resultant addiction among minors and some commercial drivers. This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities.

Placing a label to read not for children on the sachets and the small containers will not work. It cannot be enforced because of the peculiarity of the society. Many parents dont know their children take alcohol in sachet because the pack size can be easily concealed and the sachet is cheap.

History of six years of moratorium given to manufacturers to reconfigure their product lines: In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines.

NAFDAC emphasizes that the current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigerias commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy Resolution to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), to which Nigeria is a signatory since 2010. The aim of the Resolution is to protect vulnerable population such as children and the youth.

The ban on sachet packaging and PET botttle less than 200 ml is to make it difficult for children to get to alcohol and its consumption. NAFDAC approves alcohol in bigger pack sizes. The small size of the sachet makes it easier for underage to conceal from parents and teachers. Report from schools show that children conceal the sachets. A teacher recently reported that a student said he couldnt take exam without taking sachet alcohol.

NAFDAC reiterates that only two packages of alcoholic beverages are affected by this regulationspirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET/glass bottles below 200ml. The Agency calls on all stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, to comply fully with the phase-out deadline, as no further extension will be entertained beyond December 2025.

The Agency will continue to work collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to implement nationwide sensitization campaigns on the health and social dangers associated with alcohol misuse.

NAFDAC remains resolute in its mission to ensure that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.