Federal High Court of Nigeria Announces 2026 Christmas Vacation Schedule

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, has officially announced the commencement of the court’s 2026 Christmas vacation. According to the announcement, the break is scheduled to begin on Monday, December 21, 2026, and will conclude on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.

Legal Basis for the Recess

The announcement, issued in Abuja, clarifies that the vacation period is mandated by the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019. Specifically, the schedule adheres to Order 46, Rule 4(c), which governs the operational calendar of the court. Following the conclusion of the break, regular court sittings are slated to resume on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

Operational Divisions During the Holiday

While the court will be in recess, the judiciary has arranged for limited operations to ensure that urgent legal needs are met. Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, the Director of Information for the court, stated that four judicial divisions will remain active during this period to provide services to the public. These divisions are:

• Abuja
• Lagos
• Port Harcourt
• Enugu

Scope of Vacation Court Matters

The vacation judges assigned to these divisions will not be conducting regular trials. Instead, their scope of work is strictly limited to specific categories of urgent legal issues. These include:

• Matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights
• Issues concerning the arrest or release of vessels
• Cases of urgent national importance, including pre-election litigation

Assigned Vacation Judges

The court has designated specific judges to preside over these divisions during the break:

• Abuja: Justices Inyang Edem Ekwo and Obiora Egwuatu
• Lagos: Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi Nkemakonam
• Port Harcourt: Justices P. M. Ayua and A. T. Mohammed
• Enugu: Justices Folasade Ogunbanjo and M. T. Segun-Bello

In his announcement, Justice Tsoho extended his well wishes to the judges and staff of the court for the upcoming holiday season. The court has not provided information regarding the specific hours of operation for these divisions, and litigants are advised to consult with the court registry for further procedural guidance during the vacation period.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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