Federal High Court Announces 2026 Annual Holiday Schedule

Steve Aya

The Federal High Court announced that its 2026 annual recess will begin on July 27 and conclude on September 11, with regular court operations slated to resume on September 14.

The notice was issued under Order 46, Rule 4(d) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, and received approval from Chief Judge Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho.

Although the court will be on recess, it clarified that judicial services would not be entirely halted. Designated vacation courts will continue to operate, handling only urgent and time‑sensitive cases. The notice advised litigants and attorneys to submit such matters to the nearest designated vacation court.

The court identified the Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu Judicial Divisions as the locations that will stay open during the recess to manage emergency cases.

In Abuja, Justices J. O. Abdulmalik and O. A. Egwuatu will act as vacation judges. In Lagos, Justices Akintayo Aluko and Ogazi F. Nkemakonam will serve. The Port Harcourt Division will be overseen by Justices P. M. Ayua and A. T. Mohammed, while in Enugu, Justices F. O. G. Ogunbanjo and M. T. Segun‑Bello will preside over urgent cases filed during the recess.

Signed by Catherine Oby Christopher, the notice conveyed the Chief Judge’s goodwill to judicial officers and court staff, wishing them a restful break, and reaffirmed the court’s commitment to maintaining access to justice via the designated vacation courts.