The Lagos State High Court has announced that it will commence its annual vacation on July 21, marking the end of the 2024/2025 legal year. The vacation is expected to last until September 12, with the 2025/2026 legal year scheduled to begin on September 15.
This development was made public in a notice signed by the Chief Registrar, Tajudeen Elias, and approved by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba. The break is in line with Order 49, Rule 4(D) of the Lagos High Court Civil Procedure Rules (2019).
While civil matters will be on hold, the Criminal Division of the court will remain active during the break. Judges assigned to criminal cases may continue sitting, and vacation judges will be available to handle any pending or urgent matters that require immediate attention.
In urgent situations, cases can still be heard during the vacation period, excluding Sundays and public holidays, provided all parties involved give their consent. Such applications must be brought before the vacation judge or the judge in charge of the case.
Meanwhile, the legal year service to usher in the new court calendar is slated for September 22.
This annual break gives judges and legal practitioners time to rest and prepare for the new legal calendar while ensuring that the justice system remains responsive to urgent criminal cases.