The Federal High Court nationwide will observe its Easter vacation from March 22 to April 8, 2024. This vacation period, as directed by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho in a circular, adheres to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (b) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).
A statement issued on Tuesday by Catherine Christopher, the court’s Assistant Director of Information, specified that during this vacation, only cases concerning the enforcement of fundamental rights, arrest or release of vessels, and matters of national interest will be heard by vacation judges in the Abuja, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions.
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The statement outlined, “The Court shall commence its Easter Vacation from Friday, 22nd March, 2024 to Monday, April 8, 2024.
The Court resumes sitting on Tuesday, 9th April, 2024 in all Judicial Divisions.
During the vacation period, the Abuja, Lagos, and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions shall remain open to the public only for cases of extreme urgency.”
It was emphasized that only urgent matters pertaining to the specified categories will be entertained during the vacation period.
Christopher further clarified that the Abuja division will handle cases from the Federal Capital Territory, North Central, North Western, and North Eastern parts of the Country.
The Lagos Division will cater to cases from all the South Western States, while the Port-Harcourt Judicial Division will cater to cases from all states within the South-South and South Eastern Geo-political Zones.
Vacation judges have been assigned for each division, with Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo and Justice D.U. Okorowo in Abuja, Justice A.O. Awogboro and Justice Ibrahim Kala in Lagos, and Justice A.T. Mohammed and Justice S.I. Mark in Port Harcourt.
Christopher reiterated the standard practice of promptly referring urgent matters to the Chief Judge during the vacation period.
Federal High Courts observe their annual Easter vacation between March and April each year. In 2023, the vacation period was observed between March 31 and April 17.
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