The Federal High Court will commence its 2026 Christmas vacation on December 21, with regular court proceedings expected to resume on January 6, 2027.
The vacation, approved by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, will run until January 5, 2027, according to a notice issued on Monday by the court’s Director of Information, Dr Catherine Christopher.
The notice stated, “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 of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.
“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.”
Christopher explained that court services would continue in selected judicial divisions during the holiday period to attend to urgent legal matters.
She said, “only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.”
The court also clarified that judges assigned to the vacation duty would handle only urgent cases, including applications concerning the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels and other matters of national importance, particularly pre-election disputes.
For the Abuja Judicial Division, Justices I.E. Ekwo and O.A. Egwuatu have been assigned to handle cases during the period.
In Lagos, Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi F. Nkemakonam will be on vacation duty, while Justices P.M. Ayua and A.T. Mohammed will serve at the Port Harcourt division.
The Enugu Judicial Division will have Justices F.O.G. Ogunbanjo and M.T. Segun-Bello attending to cases throughout the vacation.
The Chief Judge wished judicial officers and other members of the court a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
