The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has announced a two-week Christmas and New Year vacation for the court, commencing on 21 December and concluding on 5 January. In a statement signed by Catherine Oby- Christopher, the Director of Information of the court, Justice Tsoho confirmed that regular court sittings will resume on 6 January. The vacation order was issued pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019.
The chief judge noted that only designated judicial divisions will remain operational during the vacation period to provide judicial services to the litigating public. Justice Inyang Ekwo and Justice Obiora Egwuatu have been appointed as vacation judges for the Abuja division, while Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Ogazi Nkemakonam will sit at the Lagos division.
Additional vacation judges include Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed at the Port Harcourt division, and Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo and Justice M. T. Segun-Bello at the Enugu judicial division.
During the vacation period, the vacation judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as the trial of pre-election cases. The chief judge wished all judges and members of the court a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.