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Federal High Court turns 50, announces celebration

The Federal High Court, Abuja will on Monday begin activities to commemorate 50 years of its inception.

The Chief Registrar of the FHC, Sulaiman Amida-Hassan, released the programme for the celebration.

The programme, released in Abuja on Saturday, disclosed that the activities would commence on December 11 with devotional worships at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the National Mosque, both in Abuja at 9:30am.

According to Amida-Hassan, there will be a Special Legal Year Court Session at Ukeje Hall, FHC, Abuja, also on December 11 by 1pm.

He said a novelty football match between selected FHC judges and members of the Nigerian Bar Association would be organised on December 12 at 9:30am.

This, he said, would be followed by a presentation of publications of the FHC by the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho, at Ukeje Hall by 10am.

Amida-Hassan said that on December 13, judges’ annual conference anniversary lectures would be opened at 9:30am and end by 12noon, adding: “Thursday, December 14, 2023, judges’ annual conference continues at 10am to 2:30pm.

“On December 14 also, there will be Gala/Cultural Night (Dress Code: Native/National Attire) at the Ballroom 232, Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT at 5pm.

“On Friday, December 15, 2023, there will be an health talk for honourable judges, Hon. Chief Judge’s Merit Awards Ceremony and closure of judges’ annual conference at National Stadium, Abuja by 4pm.”

Amida-Hassan said the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, would chair the occasion. 

The FHC, which was established in 1973, was formerly known as Federal Revenue Court.

It was established by the Federal Revenue Act 1973 (1973 No.13) and began with four judges with a president as its head.

The court was, however, renamed the Federal High Court by Section 228 (1) and 230 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979.

While Honourable Justice S.O. Lambo was the first president of the then Federal Revenue Court and served between 1973 and 1975, Justice John Tsoho is the 10th and current Chief Judge of the FHC.

The court, which had grown structurally over the years, presently has 38 divisions in all the states of the federation, including Abuja, where its headquarters is located, with 95 judges.

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