Federal High Court Announces Two-Week Christmas Vacation and Vacation Judges
Chief Judge John Tsoho confirms court closure from December 21 to January 5.
1Official Vacation Announcement
Chief Judge John Tsoho has officially declared a two-week Christmas and New Year recess for the Federal High Court. The break is scheduled to commence on 21 December 2026 and conclude on 5 January 2027. Regular judicial proceedings are expected to resume across all divisions on 6 January 2027 following the holiday period.
2Legal Basis for Recess
The announcement is made pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules of 2019. This regulation mandates the court to observe specific holiday periods while ensuring that essential judicial services remain accessible to the public through designated vacation judges during the temporary closure.
3Designated Vacation Judges
Justice Inyang Ekwo and Justice Obiora Egwuatu are assigned to the Abuja division for the period. In Lagos, Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Ogazi Nkemakonam will preside over matters. Meanwhile, Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed will cover Port Harcourt, with Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo and Justice M. T. Segun-Bello serving in Enugu.
4Scope of Emergency Services
During the vacation, the court will not operate at full capacity. Vacation judges are strictly limited to entertaining matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other urgent national issues, including the trial of pre-election cases, to ensure critical legal protections remain active throughout.
5Operational Judicial Divisions
Only specific judicial divisions have been designated as operational to provide services to the litigating public. By concentrating resources in these key locations, the court aims to maintain a baseline of legal oversight. Litigants requiring urgent intervention must direct their filings to these specific divisions rather than the standard court locations.
6Administrative Communication Protocol
The directive was formally issued through a statement signed by Catherine Oby-Christopher, the Director of Information for the Federal High Court. This communication ensures that legal practitioners and the general public are adequately informed of the court's status, preventing confusion regarding filing deadlines or hearing dates during the festive season break.
7Context of Judicial Breaks
Annual court vacations are standard administrative procedures in the Nigerian legal system, allowing for the maintenance of court infrastructure and providing rest for judicial officers. These breaks are carefully balanced against the necessity of maintaining access to justice, particularly for time-sensitive matters that cannot wait for the resumption of regular sessions.
8Impact on Legal Proceedings
The suspension of regular sittings necessitates that lawyers and parties involved in ongoing litigation adjust their schedules accordingly. While the court remains largely dormant, the presence of vacation judges ensures that the rule of law is upheld for urgent matters, preventing potential backlogs or rights violations during the two-week holiday period.