Federal High Court: Christmas Vacation 2026 Dates Announced, Judges Set

• The Federal High Court's 2026 Christmas vacation will run from December 21, 2026, to January 5, 2027.
• Regular court sittings are scheduled to resume on January 6, 2027, following approval by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho.
• Only designated judicial divisions will operate during the vacation, handling urgent matters like fundamental rights enforcement and pre-election cases.
• This vacation period is in accordance with Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019.
• Specific vacation judges have been assigned to the Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu judicial divisions.

Legal practitioners and compliance officers must therefore meticulously plan their filings and deadlines, particularly for urgent matters, to align with the operational schedule of the designated judicial divisions.

The Federal High Court is set to commence its annual Christmas vacation for 2026 on December 21, marking a significant period of recess for the judiciary. This vacation will conclude on January 5, 2027, with normal court proceedings slated to recommence on January 6, 2027. Legal professionals and litigants should note these dates to manage their schedules effectively.

This period of recess received official approval from the court's Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho. The announcement was formally communicated through a notice released on Monday by Dr. Catherine Christopher, the court’s Director of Information, which also included the roster of judges designated to sit during the vacation period. The Chief Judge extended his best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all judges and members of the court.

The Federal High Court Christmas vacation 2026 adheres strictly to established legal frameworks. The vacation aligns with the provisions outlined in Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, which empowers the Chief Judge to approve such periods of court holiday. This ensures that while the majority of court activities pause, essential judicial services remain accessible.

During this vacation period, the operational scope of the court will be limited. Only specifically designated Judicial Divisions will maintain operations to provide necessary judicial services to the public. Vacation judges, appointed for this specific period, will exclusively address cases concerning the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of maritime vessels, and other pressing issues deemed of national significance, notably including pre-election disputes. This focused approach ensures that critical legal matters can still be addressed without undue delay during the Nigeria court holiday schedule.

For legal practitioners dealing with urgent matters FHC vacation, it is crucial to identify the specific FHC vacation judges 2026 and their respective divisions. In the Abuja Judicial Division, Justices I.E. Ekwo and O.A. Egwuatu have been designated to preside over urgent cases. The Lagos Judicial Division will see Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi F. Nkemakonam handling matters requiring immediate attention.

Further, Justices P.M. Ayua and A.T. Mohammed are assigned to the Port Harcourt Judicial Division for the vacation period. In the Enugu Judicial Division, Justices F.O.G. Ogunbanjo and M.T. Segun-Bello will be responsible for hearing urgent cases. Legal practitioners and compliance officers must therefore meticulously plan their filings and deadlines, particularly for urgent matters, to align with the operational schedule of the designated judicial divisions.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Nigeria must note the Federal High Court's Christmas vacation dates (December 21, 2026 - January 5, 2027) to manage case filings and deadlines effectively. Urgent matters, including fundamental rights, vessel arrests, and pre-election cases, will be heard by designated vacation judges in specific judicial divisions, requiring practitioners to identify the correct division and judge for such filings.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH newspaper.