Lagos High Court Begins Annual Vacation July 21—Criminal Cases to Continue
The Lagos State High Court will commence its annual vacation on July 21, 2025, to formally close the 2024/2025 legal year, according to a notice issued by the Chief Registrar, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, dated June 5.
The vacation period is scheduled to end on September 12, with the 2025/2026 legal year set to begin on September 15. A special legal year service will follow on September 22.
The vacation was approved by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, in line with Order 49, Rule 4(D) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules, 2019.
However, criminal cases won’t take a break. The Criminal Division of the High Court will continue to sit during the vacation. Where a sitting judge is on leave, a vacation judge will be assigned to handle all pending criminal matters.
Elias clarified that judges may also hear urgent civil or criminal matters during the break, provided all parties consent and the case does not fall on a Sunday or public holiday.
Applications for such urgent matters are to be filed by summons in chambers before the vacation judge or the judge originally assigned to the case.
This arrangement aims to maintain judicial responsiveness, especially in criminal proceedings and time-sensitive matters, even during the court’s annual recess.
