Fact-Check: Claim That Makinde Hired Natalia Veselnitskaya to Head Campaign Legal Team Is False

Claim: An X user shared a post claiming that patriotic Nigerians fly World-Class Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya to lead the presidential Campaign Legal team Governor Seyi Makinde’s Presidential Campaign Legal team.

Verdict: False

Full Story:
In mid-May 2026, Governor Seyi Makinde declared his presidential ambition during a unity rally jointly organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ibadan. The rally formalised a political alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The declaration followed months of internal wranglings among opposition parties, characterised by defections, factional disputes, and leadership crises. Makinde said his decision was driven by the need to strengthen opposition politics in Nigeria, adding that the alliance would field candidates for elective offices across the country.

Following the declaration, Makinde began unveiling parts of his presidential campaign structure, including the launch of the Reset Nigeria Movement, a mobilisation platform with a dedicated website for supporters and volunteers.

Shortly afterwards, a viral social media post alleged that “Patriotic Nigerians” had flown in Natalia Veselnitskaya to lead Makinde’s presidential campaign legal team.

The post further claimed that the Russian lawyer was “the most dangerous lawyer in the world” with an unbeatable legal record and that she had previously defeated the United States in court over sanctions imposed on Russia.

See the screenshot of the post below.

Within 24 hours, the post gained traction on social media, generating over 474,000 views and thousands of likes, reactions, and comments.

Some users questioned whether a Russian lawyer without a Nigerian practising licence could legally serve on a political legal team in Nigeria. Others noted that a similar claim emerged during the 2023 post-election litigation involving Peter Obi and was later debunked.

But is there any credible evidence supporting the claim? NDRFactCheck investigated.

Verification
A review of credible news reports and official statements showed no evidence that Seyi Makinde had appointed Natalia Veselnitskaya to head any legal team.

Further checks on the official Reset Nigeria Movement website, the media and mobilisation platform linked to Makinde’s presidential bid, revealed no announcement regarding the constitution of a campaign legal team or the appointment of any foreign legal adviser.

Additionally, a nearly identical claim circulated during the 2023 presidential election tribunal proceedings. At the time, social media posts falsely alleged that former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo had brought in a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, to reclaim Peter Obi’s mandate. The claim was widely debunked.

Legal experts note that foreign lawyers face strict limits on practising in Nigeria. By law, they cannot appear freely unless the Chief Justice of Nigeria grants a special warrant for a specific case. They may also need to meet local professional requirements, including passing the Nigerian bar examinations.

Beyond the legal restrictions, Nigeria and Russia operate different legal systems. According to Law Gratis, Russian legal education is rooted primarily in the civil law tradition, while Nigeria operates a common law system inherited from Britain. This creates additional professional and procedural barriers for foreign legal practitioners seeking to work in Nigerian courts or political litigation.

Conclusion
Why the claim is false
No credible evidence shows that Seyi Makinde appointed Natalia Veselnitskaya to lead any presidential campaign legal team. Similar claims have been debunked before, and legal as well as professional restrictions make such an arrangement highly unlikely. Overall, the claim appears to be fabricated and is false.

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