The Lagos State High Court has announced its annual vacation for the 2024/2025 legal year, scheduled to run from July 21 to September 12, 2025. The announcement was made in an official notice dated June 5, signed by Mr. Tajudeen Elias, the Chief Registrar of the state judiciary.
According to the notice, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, approved the vacation in accordance with Order 49, Rule 4(D) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules, 2019.
Despite the vacation period, the Criminal Division of the High Court will continue to operate. "Notwithstanding the long vacation, the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State may sit throughout the vacation," Elias stated in the notice.
He further explained that in cases where a judge from the criminal division is on vacation, a vacation judge may be assigned to handle pending criminal cases in that court.
Provisions for Urgent Cases
The notice also outlined provisions for urgent matters during the vacation period. "Notwithstanding the long vacation, any case or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of vacation (except on a Sunday or public holiday)," Elias noted.
For cases deemed urgent, a judge will hear the matter with the consent of all parties involved. Applications for urgent hearings can be brought by summons in chambers before either the vacation judge or the judge to whom the substantive case is assigned.
The Chief Registrar also confirmed that the 2025/2026 legal year of the Lagos State Judiciary will commence on September 15, with the legal year service scheduled for September 22.
This annual vacation marks the conclusion of the current legal year and provides the judiciary with a period of recess before the commencement of the new legal year.
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