The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, has appointed eight judges to handle urgent judicial matters across four judicial divisions during the court’s 2026 Christmas and New Year vacation.
The vacation period will begin on December 21, 2026, and end on January 5, 2027, with regular court sittings scheduled to resume on January 6, 2027.The announcement was contained in a statement signed by the court’s Director of Information, Mrs. Catherine Oby-Christopher.
According to the statement, Justice Tsoho approved the vacation arrangement in accordance with Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, which provides for the designation of judges to attend to urgent cases during court vacations.
The Chief Judge explained that although regular court activities would be suspended, selected judicial divisions would remain operational to ensure that essential judicial services are available to the public.
For the Abuja Judicial Division, Justices Inyang Ekwo and Obiora Egwuatu have been appointed as vacation judges, while Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi Nkemakonam will handle urgent cases in Lagos.
In the Port Harcourt Judicial Division, Justices P. M. Ayua and A. T. Mohammed have been designated to preside over matters requiring urgent attention.
Meanwhile, Justices Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo and M. T. Segun-Bello will oversee vacation proceedings in the Enugu Judicial Division.
Justice Tsoho further clarified that the vacation judges would handle only specific categories of cases requiring immediate judicial intervention.
These include applications involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters considered to be of urgent national importance, particularly pre-election cases.
The statement emphasised that the restricted arrangement was designed to ensure that critical legal issues would not be left unattended while the court observes its annual Christmas and New Year break.
The Chief Judge concluded by extending Christmas and New Year wishes to all judges and members of the Federal High Court, wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year ahead.