5. A document shall not be filed unless it has endorsed on it the name and number of the case, the date of filing,
and whether filed by plaintiff or defendant, and on being filed the endorsement shall be initialled by the registrar.
6. The fees set out in the Fourth Schedule to these Rules may be charged in respect of the duties of a notary
public or of a notarial act.
Order 48
Sittings of the Court and Vacation
1. The Court may at its discretion, appoint any day or days and any place or places from time to time for the
hearing of actions as circumstances require.
2. The sittings of the Court for the hearing and determination of the rights and obligations of the parties shall be
public:
Provided that, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Court may, for
special reasons, hear particular action in the presence only of the parties, with their legal practitioners (if any)
and the officers of court.
3. The several offices of the Court shall be open at such times as the Chief Judge shall direct.
4. (1) Subject to the directions of the Chief Judge, sittings of the Court for the despatch of civil matters shall be
held on every week-day except(a) on any public holiday;
(b) during the week beginning with Easter Monday;
(c) during the period beginning on Christmas Eve and ending on 2nd January next following.
(2) There shall be an annual vacation of the Court to commence on such date in August and of such duration, not
exceeding six weeks, as the Chief Judge may by notification in the Federal Gazette appoint.
5. (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of rule 4 of this Order, any action may be heard by a Judge in Court during
any of the periods mentioned in paragraphs(1) (b) or (c) of rule 4 of this Order (except on a Sunday or public
holiday) or paragraph(2) of the said rule where the action is urgent or a Judge, at the request of all the parties
concerned, agrees to hear the action.
(2) An application for an urgent hearing shall be made by summons chambers, and the decision of the Judge on
the application shall be final.
6. The time for filing and service of pleadings shall not run during the annual vacation unless otherwise directed
by the Court or a Judge in chambers.
7. No business shall be transacted in chambers on Sundays and public holidays.
Order 49
Probate and Administration
Grant of Probate or Administration in General
1. (1) Subject to the provisions of rules 39 and 40 of this order, when any person subject to the jurisdiction of the
Court dies, all petitions for the granting of any letters of administration of the estate of the deceased person, with
or without a will attached, and all applications on other matters connected therewith shall be made to the Probate
Registrar of the Court at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
(2) In regard to any such application, the Chief Judge shall have power to request any Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, Abuja, to take measures and make such orders as may appear necessary or expedient for the
interim preservation of the property of the deceased within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for the