The Federal High Court of Nigeria announces its official schedule for the 2026 Easter vacation and releases the list of judges designated to handle urgent matters during the holiday period. The announcement provides guidance for legal practitioners, litigants and the general public on court operations during the Easter break.
According to information obtained by Mediaplusng.com, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, issues a circular confirming that the court will proceed on its Easter vacation beginning Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and ending Monday, April 13, 2026. The circular also outlines the arrangement for vacation judges who will attend to critical cases during the break.
The directive is issued in line with the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, as amended. Under the schedule, normal court sittings across all judicial divisions of the Federal High Court will resume on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
Although the court observes the Easter vacation nationwide, certain divisions will remain operational for urgent matters that cannot wait until regular sittings resume. Mediaplusng.com reports that the Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Enugu judicial divisions will remain open during the vacation period to handle cases of extreme urgency.
Authorities of the Federal High Court clarify that only specific categories of cases will be entertained during the Easter vacation. These include matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental human rights, issues concerning the arrest or release of vessels, and cases involving urgent national interest.
Legal experts explain that the vacation arrangement is a standard judicial practice designed to balance the need for rest among judges with the need to ensure that urgent legal matters continue to receive timely attention.
To ensure smooth judicial operations during the holiday period, the Chief Judge designates a number of experienced judges to serve as Vacation Judges in the selected judicial divisions. According to details monitored by Mediaplusng.com, these judges will preside over urgent matters that require immediate legal intervention.
In the Abuja Judicial Division, two judges are assigned to handle urgent cases during the Easter vacation. They include Justice Emeka Nwite and Justice Musa Sani Liman, both of whom will oversee proceedings relating to matters that meet the criteria for urgent hearings.
The Lagos Judicial Division, which is one of the busiest legal hubs in Nigeria, will also have two designated Vacation Judges. They are Justice Akintayo Aluko and Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam. These judges will attend to urgent applications, particularly in matters involving commercial disputes, maritime issues and fundamental rights enforcement.
Similarly, the Port Harcourt Judicial Division will operate under the supervision of Justice Phoebe M. Ayua and Justice Adamu T. Mohammed during the Easter break. The division often handles matters related to maritime law, oil and gas disputes, and urgent constitutional issues.
In the Enugu Judicial Division, Justice Mabel T. Segun-Bello is assigned to serve as the Vacation Judge throughout the Easter holiday period. She will preside over urgent legal matters requiring judicial attention during the break.
Legal observers note that the selection of these judges reflects the court’s commitment to ensuring continuity in judicial service even during official holidays. Mediaplusng.com understands that the Federal High Court regularly adopts this system to prevent delays in critical legal proceedings that may affect individuals, businesses or national interests.
In addition to the appointment of Vacation Judges, the circular also instructs Heads of Divisions and the designated judges to promptly refer any particularly urgent or sensitive matters to the Chief Judge for further directives where necessary.
This arrangement ensures that complex or nationally significant cases that arise during the vacation period can receive appropriate attention from the highest judicial authority within the Federal High Court system.
The announcement also emphasizes that the dates stated in the circular supersede any previously circulated information regarding the Easter vacation schedule. Legal practitioners are therefore advised to rely solely on the official notice issued by the court administration.
The Federal High Court plays a central role in Nigeria’s judicial system, particularly in cases involving federal agencies, revenue matters, maritime disputes, intellectual property, banking, constitutional interpretation and enforcement of fundamental rights.
Because of the wide jurisdiction of the court, legal experts say it is essential for at least a few divisions to remain operational during national holidays to address urgent cases that could have serious legal or economic consequences if delayed.
The Easter vacation schedule also aligns with the broader judicial calendar observed by courts across the country, which typically include breaks during festive seasons to allow judges and court staff time for rest and administrative review.
Observers say such breaks also provide an opportunity for the judiciary to assess ongoing cases, manage court dockets and prepare for new legal proceedings after the holiday period.
Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, extends advance Easter goodwill to members of the judiciary and court staff across the country. He encourages judges and judicial officers to use the period for reflection while maintaining readiness to handle urgent national matters where necessary.
For lawyers and litigants, the announcement serves as an important reminder to plan court filings and legal proceedings accordingly, especially for cases that may require urgent hearing during the holiday period.
Normal judicial activities across all divisions of the Federal High Court are expected to resume fully on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, after the conclusion of the Easter vacation.
Legal stakeholders across Nigeria continue to monitor developments within the judiciary as courts prepare to balance holiday observance with the responsibility of ensuring access to justice for all citizens.
