Federal High Court announces Easter vacation

The Federal High Court of Nigeria will begin its 2026 Easter vacation on April 7, with normal court sittings scheduled to resume on April 14 across all judicial divisions.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the court’s Director of Information, Dr Catherine Christopher.

According to the statement, the vacation period, approved by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, will run from April 7 to April 13, in line with the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 (as amended).

Despite the break, the court said four core judicial divisions — Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu — will remain open to attend to matters considered extremely urgent.

It explained that only cases involving the enforcement of fundamental rights, arrest or release of vessels, and matters of dire national interest would be entertained during the vacation.

“The court shall resume normal sittings on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in all judicial divisions,” the statement said.

During the vacation period, Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Musa S. Liman will serve as vacation judges in the Abuja Judicial Division, while Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam will handle urgent matters in Lagos.

In the Port Harcourt division, Justice Phoebe M. Ayua and Justice Adamu T. Mohammed have been designated, while Justice Mabel T. Segun-Bello will preside over urgent matters in the Enugu division.

The circular also directed vacation judges and heads of divisions to promptly refer any matter requiring urgent attention to the Chief Judge for necessary directives.

It added that the dates contained in the circular supersede any earlier dates that might have been circulated or obtained from other sources.