The Federal High Court has officially announced its 2025 Christmas vacation, which will begin on December 19 and end on January 6, with court sittings resuming in all judicial divisions on January 7, 2026.
The announcement comes via a statement from the court’s Director of Information, Dr. Catherine Christopher, based on a circular signed by the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho. According to the notice, the vacation is issued in line with Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).
Despite the break, the court’s core divisions in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt will remain open and accessible to the public. However, only urgent and exceptional matters will be heard during this period, specifically, “matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and issues of urgent national importance” will be entertained by the designated vacation judges.
Here are the judges assigned to preside during the holiday:
Abuja: Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Musa Liman
Lagos: Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac Dipeolu
Port Harcourt: Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed
Enugu: Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo
In his parting message, Chief Judge Tsoho extends his warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all his fellow judges.
The court’s multi-week shutdown could slow legal decisions on commercial disputes, potentially delaying contract enforcement and affecting investor confidence. Given that only highly urgent cases are handled, many business litigations may pile up, raising transactional risk and adding to the economy’s legal-cost burden.
