The memorial for Mogous Abay takes place from 2-4pm Holy Cross Church, 98, Cromer Street, London, WC1H 8JU on 29th of June 2025, one day before the 35th anniversary of his death.

The police version of events contends that Mogous Abay committed suicide by jumping out of the fourth-floor window of his brother Alem’s flat, expiring in a pool of blood soon after he hit the ground. However, reported witness accounts not only say there was no blood on or around his body, he may already have been dead before he fell. (1)

However, the investigation into the death was worryingly inadequate. Police carried out no forensic tests on the window from which Mogous is said to have jumped. Then at the inquest none of the paramedics who attended the scene, the neighbours who saw the body, the duty doctor who certified that the cause death might been cardiac arrest, the doctor in charge of the case or the duty nurse were called to give evidence. (2) The unusually short inquest (fifteen minutes) returned an open verdict, meaning that the cause of death was inconclusive. (3)

The suspicious nature of the case compelled Bro. Alem, who along with his brother were asylum seekers from Ethiopia, to fight for the truth about his brother’s death ever since. In 1993 Alem decided to challenge the verdict by applying for a judicial review for the inquest to be re-opened. Unfortunately, two years later the Legal Aid Board refused to support his application to take the case to the High Court. (4)

But the fight continues. For example, Freedom Of Information requests about the case have been refused by the Metropolitan Police. (5). Nevertheless, in 2017 The Justice for Mogous campaign presented a petition to 10 Downing Street of almost 12,000 signatures. (6)

Bizarrely, three months before the death Bro. Alem received a call from Bethnal Green police asking him to come and identify his brother’s body as he committed suicide. On the other hand there is the possibility that Bro. Alem, who was ruffling feathers about corruption in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, was the intended target given that Mogous was in his flat at the time of death. Such factors have caused the campaign to query whether security services are involved. (7) The campaign demands are:

• The Attorney General to agree to an application to the high court for the inquest verdict to be quashed and for an order directing a coroner in the same administrative area to hold a fresh inquest in Mogous Abay’s death.
• For legal aid to be restored in order to permit proper legal representation. (8)

Of the campaign Bro. Alem says:

“I have survived, God has given me the strength to continue the fight and they cannot take that power away from me.” (9)

The case was raised in the London Assembly in January 2021 by Labour member Andrew Dismore, referencing the justice campaign,he asked Mayor Sadiq Khan about investigating police handling of the case. Khan replied that as: “No formal request to re-open the investigation has been received… it has not been possible to assess any concerns campaigners may have. I can confirm no investigations have taken place.” (10)

(1) Indymedia (IMC) UK (27/04/12) Justice For Mogous Abay. https://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2012/04/495507.html
(2) Ibid
(3) Africa Briefing (28/04/21) UK launches probe into Ethiopian’s jump death puzzle. https://africabriefing.com/uk-launches-probe-into-ethiopians-jump-death-puzzle/
(4) Angela Cobbinah (30/06/23) Campaigners gather in church 33 years to the day Ethiopian’s body found outside his London home. https://issuu.com/africabriefing/docs/july_-_august_final/s/28724937
(5) K. Gallagher (15/01/17) Mogous Abay. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mogous_abay
(6) Cobbinah. Op. cit.
(7) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (20/03/23) Who was Mogous Abay and how did he die? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/who-was-mogous-abay-and-how-did-he-die-200323/
(8) Indymedia (IMC) UK. Op. cit.
(9) Cobbinah. Op. cit.
(10) London Assembly (21/01/21) Questions to the Mayor. Find An Answer. Mogous Abay. https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/questions-mayor/find-an-answer/mogous-abay

we ask the question:

Mogous Abay and the 35 year fight for justice

1) Was it a targeted killing, mistaken identity or suicide?
2) Can a 15 minute inquest really uncover the truth?
3) Why are the police refusing FOI requests?
4) Should Mayor Khan do more to investigate the case?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.

Bro. Alem Abay: is the older brother of Mogous Abay and is leading the Justice for Mogous campaign (https://justice4mogous.blogspot.com/2020/06/mogous-story.html)

The Justice For Mogous Campaign

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