Isaiah Olugosi

I am Richard Furniss, HM Assistant Coroner for West London

On 1 April 2022 an investigation was commenced into the death of Isaiah Adekunle  OLUGOSI. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 21 February 2025. The conclusion of the inquest was Suicide 1a Asphyxia 1b Hanging 1c II

The Deceased hanged himself in his prison cell overnight on 27/28 March 2022. The jury found that this was suicide. He had spoken to his wife at about 2100 hours on 27 March 2022. She believed he was  suicidal and likely to take his life. She, and Cambridgeshire Police and the Metropolitan  Police, were all unable to contact he prison by telephone to warn them. It later transpired that this was because the calls were being diverted to an unmanned or obsolete number. The Deceased’s wife drove from Cambridge to the prison, two hours away. She stood  outside the main gate for some considerable time, banging on it, calling out and pressing a buzzer which promised to connect her to an intercom through which she could speak to  prison staff. The intercom was out of action and had been for several years. In the result, the Deceased’s  wife and the police could not contact the prison all night During that night, the Deceased took his life.

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed the following matter giving rise to  concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTER OF CONCERN is as follows. – The buzzer/intercom system must have been provided because it was thought important to  provide that additional means of communication between the prison and the outside world. In this case, a working system would have enabled the Deceased’s wife to warn the prison of  his impending suicide. This could happen again in the future if there was another problem with the telephone system during the night state. It is difficult to understand why the buzzer/intercom system has not worked for several years. There was evidence that it is irreparable. But the proposed solution appeared to be either to  leave it as it is (still not working) or to remove it altogether. The jury found that the failure to provide a working buzzer/intercom system was a failure. It is a matter of concern that the prison/the Ministry of Justice still considers that it is unnecessary.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you, [REDACTED], Governor of HMP Wormwood Scrubs, have the power to take such action