Get Guardian on GoogleThe Federal High Court will begin its 2026 Christmas vacation on December 21, with regular sittings scheduled to resume on January 6, 2027.
The Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, announced this in a statement signed by the Director of Information, Catherine Oby-Christopher.
He said designated judges would remain on duty in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu to attend to urgent cases during the vacation.
Justices Inyang Ekwo and Obiora Egwuatu will handle cases at the Abuja division, while Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi Nkemakonam have been assigned to the Lagos division.
At the Port Harcourt division, Justices P. M. Ayua and A. T. Mohammed will serve as vacation judges, while Justices Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo and M. T. Segun-Bello will attend to cases in Enugu.
Tsoho said the vacation was approved in accordance with Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019.
He said, “Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.
“Regular court sittings shall resume on 6 January,” the Chief Judge said.
The Chief Judge explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational during the break to provide judicial services to litigants.
He said the vacation judges would entertain only cases involving the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels and other matters of urgent national importance, including pre-election cases.
“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the vacation judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre- election cases,” Mr Tsoho said.
