The Federal High Court of Nigeria has officially announced the dates for its 2025 annual vacation. According to a statement issued by the court’s Director of Information, Mrs. Catherine Oby Christopher, the vacation period will commence on July 28, 2025, and end on September 16, 2025. Court proceedings are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
In the statement, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, Mrs. Christopher noted that despite the general closure, certain divisions of the court would remain operational to handle matters of urgent and exceptional importance.
According to Christopher, during the vacation period, the core divisions of the court, Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt will remain functional for cases of extreme urgency.
“Consequently, the litigating public will be at liberty to approach only the above listed courts located nearest to them,” she said.
The director of information also listed the judges that would work during the period of the vacation to include: Abuja:Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice M. S. Liman.
“Lagos: Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu and Justice Musa Kakaki”.
“Port- Harcourt: Justice P. M. Ayua and Justice A. T. Mohammed”.
She further said that the vacation was by virtue of the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
The statement also said that the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho wished his fellow lordships a pleasant vacation in advance.
Last year, the Federal High Court of Nigeria commenced its 2024 annual vacation on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, and concluded on Friday, September 13, 2024. Regular court sittings resumed on Monday, September 16, 2024 .
During the vacation period, the court maintained limited operations to handle matters of extreme urgency through its three premier divisions: Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt. The designated vacation judges were: Abuja: Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Peter O. Lifu, Lagos: Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Isaac D. Dipeolu, Port Harcourt: Justice A. T. Mohammed and Justice P. M. Ayua .
The annual vacation aligns with Order 46, Rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, providing judges with a period to rest and prepare for the new legal year.