Federal High Court begins Christmas vacation December 21

The Federal High Court will begin its 2026 Christmas vacation on December 21, with regular court sittings scheduled to resume on January 6, 2027.

The court’s Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, approved the vacation, which will end on January 5, 2027, in a notice issued by the court’s Director of Information, Dr Catherine Christopher, on Monday.

“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,” the notice read.

According to Christopher, “only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.”

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The court said vacation judges would entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels and other urgent matters of national importance, including pre-election cases.

For the Abuja Judicial Division, Justices I.E. Ekwo and O.A. Egwuatu were designated as vacation judges.

The Lagos Judicial Division will be served by Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi F. Nkemakonam, while Justices P.M. Ayua and A.T. Mohammed will sit in Port Harcourt.

In Enugu, Justices F.O.G. Ogunbanjo and M.T. Segun-Bello were designated to handle cases during the vacation.

The Chief Judge wished judges and members of the court a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Nathaniel Shaibu

Nathaniel Shaibu is a correspondent at The PUNCH with three years of professional journalism experience. He covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), civil society, religion, and the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development. In addition to his primary beats, Nathaniel also reports on politics, metro, security, and judicial matters, bringing clarity and balance to a wide range of public-interest stories. His work reflects hands-on newsroom experience, strong beat knowledge, and a commitment to accurate, responsible journalism.