The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, has approved the 2025 Christmas vacation for judges of the Rivers State High Court.
In a statement issued by the Chief Registrar, David Ihua-Maduenyi, the Judiciary announced that the vacation will begin on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, and run through Friday, January 9, 2026. Court activities are expected to resume fully on Monday, January 12, 2026.
According to the statement, the directive aligns with Order 49, Rule 4(C) of the High Court of Rivers State Civil Procedure Rules, 2023, which empowers the Chief Judge to declare annual vacation periods for judges. The provision ensures that judicial officers observe statutory rest periods while also guaranteeing that essential court services remain available to the public.
While all judicial divisions of the High Court will be closed to regular business during the vacation, the Chief Judge has approved the appointment of a vacation judge to preside over urgent matters.
The designated judge will attend to applications that cannot wait until the courts reopen, including issues requiring immediate intervention, enforcement of fundamental rights, and other time-sensitive filings.
The Judiciary emphasized that the vacation does not halt all judicial processes but restructures operations to ensure that the most pressing cases receive attention. Lawyers and litigants were advised to file only urgent applications within the period, as non-essential matters will be deferred until the courts resume normal sittings.
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