The Federal High Court of Nigeria has announced its annual Christmas vacation period, with designated judges appointed to handle urgent cases across three core judicial divisions.
Chief Judge John Tsoho approved the court’s holiday schedule in accordance with Order 46, Rule 4(C) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended), according to a statement released on Tuesday by Assistant Director of Information Catherine Christopher.
“During the vacation period, the core Judicial Divisions, Abuja, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions, will, as usual, remain functional and open to the litigating public throughout the Vacation,” Christopher stated in the official announcement.
The vacation will commence on December 16, with full court activities scheduled to resume on January 7, 2025, across all judicial divisions nationwide.
To ensure continuous access to justice during this period, the court has carefully selected experienced judges to handle emergency matters.
The statement specified the scope of cases that will be considered during the break:
“Only matters relating to the enforcement of Fundamental Rights, Arrest or Release of Vessels, and matters that concern dire National Interest shall be entertained by the Vacation Judges.”
For the Abuja Judicial Division, Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice M. S. Liman have been appointed as vacation judges.
The Lagos Division will be served by Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac D. Dipeolu, while the Port-Harcourt Division will have Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed presiding over urgent cases.
This arrangement ensures that critical judicial services remain accessible throughout the festive season, maintaining the court’s commitment to the administration of justice even during the holiday period.
The strategic selection of these judicial divisions – Abuja, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt – reflects their significance as key legal centers in Nigeria’s northern, southwestern, and south-southern regions respectively.
Litigants with urgent matters falling within the specified categories are advised to approach the designated vacation judges in their respective divisions during this period.
Regular court activities across all divisions will resume fully in the new year, marking the beginning of the 2025 legal calendar.
