Federal High Court Schedules 2025 Christmas Vacation

The Federal High Court (FHC) will begin its 2025 Christmas vacation on December 19, the News Agency of Nigeria reports. Court sessions are expected to resume across all judicial divisions on January 7, 2026.

Dr. Catherine Christopher, the FHC’s Director of Information, said the vacation schedule follows a circular signed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, and is issued under Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended). She confirmed that during the break, the core judicial divisions in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt will remain operational.

Only urgent matters, including enforcement of fundamental rights, arrest or release of vessels, and issues of national importance, will be handled by vacation judges. The judges assigned include Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Musa Liman for Abuja, Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac Dipeolu for Lagos, Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed for Port Harcourt, and Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo for Enugu.

Dr. Christopher added that Chief Judge John T. Tsoho extends warm Christmas and New Year wishes to all judges. The announcement coincides with the seasonal practice of federal ministries, departments, and agencies scaling down operations or observing adjusted schedules while maintaining essential services.