The Federal High Court will begin its Christmas holiday on December 19, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the FHC’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Christopher, announced that court activities across all judicial divisions will resume on January 7, 2026.
Christopher explained that the directive, contained in a notice titled “Notice of 2025 Christmas Vacation and Roster for Vacation Judges,” followed a circular signed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho.
The statement reads: “The Federal High Court hereby issues notice of its 2025 Christmas Vacation as well as the approved Roster of Vacation Judges.
“The court will commence its Christmas Vacation for the year 2025 on Dec. 19.
“This vacation schedule is issued pursuant to Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).
“Court sittings shall resume in all Judicial Divisions on Jan. 7, 2026.
“During the vacation, the core judicial divisions — Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt will remain operational and accessible to the litigating public.”
She added that during the break, only cases involving the enforcement of fundamental rights, vessel arrest or release, and matters of urgent national significance will be handled by the vacation judges.
For Abuja, Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Musa Liman will preside as vacation judges; in Lagos, Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac Dipeolu will be on duty. At the Port Harcourt Division, Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed will sit, while Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo will oversee matters in the Enugu Division.
Concluding the announcement, she noted that “The Honourable Chief Judge, Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), extends his warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all Honourable Judges.”
Several federal ministries, departments and agencies typically reduce operations, adjust schedules, or take short breaks during the Christmas and New Year season, a yearly practice that helps maintain essential services despite lower activity levels.
