The Federal High Court of Nigeria will commence its 2025 Christmas vacation on December 19, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. Court activities will resume across all judicial divisions on January 7, 2026, following the end of the holiday break.
In a statement released in Abuja, the Director of Information of the Federal High Court, Dr. Catherine Christopher, confirmed that the vacation schedule was issued in line with a circular signed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho. The notice was titled: “Notice of 2025 Christmas Vacation and Roster for Vacation Judges.”
Core Judicial Divisions to Remain Open
Although regular sittings will be suspended during the break, the court clarified that the judicial divisions in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt will remain operational to attend to urgent legal matters.
Only cases involving:
- Enforcement of fundamental human rights
- Arrest or release of vessels
- Matters of urgent national importance
will be entertained by the appointed vacation judges, in line with Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).
List of Appointed Vacation Judges
The statement also released the roster of judges who will preside during the 2025 Christmas vacation:
| Judicial Division | Vacation Judges |
|---|---|
| Abuja | Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Musa Liman |
| Lagos | Justice Akintayo Aluko, Justice Isaac Dipeolu |
| Port Harcourt | Justice P. M. Ayua, Justice A. T. Mohammed |
| Enugu | Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo |
Chief Judge Sends Seasonal Greetings
Justice Tsoho extended his goodwill to all judges and judicial officers across the country, wishing them a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year as the judiciary prepares for reduced activities during the festive season.
Holiday Period in Government Institutions
Many federal ministries, departments, and agencies traditionally scale down operations during the Christmas and New Year holidays. While some adopt adjusted work hours, others take temporary breaks, ensuring essential services remain available for the public.
