The Federal High Court of Nigeria has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will commence on Monday, December 21, 2026, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.
According to a press statement issued by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, regular court proceedings will resume across all judicial divisions on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.
The Christmas vacation, approved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), is pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.
However, during the vacation, only matters of extreme urgency, including the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance, such as the trial of pre-election cases, will be entertained by designated vacation judges in four judicial divisions of the court: Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu.
The notice, titled “Notice of the Federal High Court Christmas Vacation for the Year 2026”, dated November 9 and signed by Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, Director of Information, Federal High Court of Nigeria, reads:
“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.
“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.
“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.
“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.
“The designated Vacation Judges are as follows:
ABUJA JUDICIAL DIVISION
- Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo
- Hon. Justice O. A. Egwuatu
LAGOS JUDICIAL DIVISION
- Hon. Justice Akintayo Aluko
- Hon. Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam
PORT HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION
- Hon. Justice P. M. Ayua
- Hon. Justice A. T. Mohammed
ENUGU JUDICIAL DIVISION
- Hon. Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo
- Hon. Justice M. T. Segun-Bello
“The Honourable Chief Judge wishes all Honourable Judges and members of the Court a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.”
