The Rivers State Judiciary has announced the official dates for its 2025 Christmas vacation, signalling a temporary pause in regular court activities across the state. The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi, directed that all High Court judges proceed on Christmas break from Tuesday, December 23, 2025, until Friday, January 9, 2026.
The announcement was contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Chief Registrar of the High Court, David Ihua Maduenyi. The statement also clarified that normal court sittings will resume on Monday, January 12, 2026, after the holiday period.
The Chief Judge explained that the break is in accordance with the provisions of Order 49, Rule 4(c) of the High Court of Rivers State Civil Procedure Rules, 2023. During the vacation, all judicial divisions across the state will remain closed, meaning no regular hearings or trials will take place.
However, the statement emphasized that a “vacation judge” has been appointed to handle urgent matters. This ensures that critical applications and emergency cases filed during the break can still be addressed without delay.
Vacation judges play a key role in maintaining the justice system’s functionality even during official breaks. They handle urgent cases such as applications for injunctions, bail hearings, and other time-sensitive legal matters that cannot wait until courts reopen. The Rivers State Judiciary’s practice of assigning a vacation judge aligns with standard procedures across Nigeria, ensuring the rule of law is upheld even during holidays.
Speaking on the vacation, legal observers noted that the break allows judges to rest and review pending cases, helping to improve efficiency and the quality of judicial decisions when normal court sittings resume.
The Rivers State Judiciary, like other state judicial systems in Nigeria, schedules annual vacation periods to allow for administrative planning, judicial review, and rest for judges and court staff. Typically, the Christmas break provides a two-week pause in court activities, aligning with public holidays and the festive season.
During the vacation period, court offices are generally closed, though essential staff remain on standby to support the designated vacation judge. Lawyers and litigants are advised to plan their filings and hearings around these dates to avoid inconvenience.
For litigants, it is important to note that the closure of regular court divisions does not prevent the filing of urgent matters, thanks to the provision of a vacation judge. This ensures that critical cases, such as those involving restraining orders or urgent property disputes, are not stalled due to the holiday period.
The Chief Judge’s directive also reflects a commitment to ensuring smooth operations within the judiciary. By clearly stating the vacation period, the Chief Judge prevents confusion among judicial staff, lawyers, and the public. The statement encourages all stakeholders to respect the break while also making use of the vacation judge system for emergency cases.
Moreover, the Rivers State Judiciary has previously highlighted the importance of adhering to procedural rules even during holidays. This approach strengthens public confidence in the justice system, showing that the courts remain accessible for urgent matters while maintaining an orderly schedule.
Courts are set to reopen on Monday, January 12, 2026, marking the end of the Christmas break. On this day, normal court sittings will resume across all judicial divisions in Rivers State. Legal practitioners are expected to return to work, and pending cases will continue from where they left off before the vacation.
The Chief Registrar’s statement reminded members of the bar and the public to take note of the vacation dates and plan their legal engagements accordingly. Proper awareness ensures that cases proceed without unnecessary delays and that urgent matters are directed to the vacation judge.
