Fraudster ‘faces harsher penalty in US due to his ethnicity’

An alleged fraudster accused of involvement in a £5m phishing scam should not be extradited to the US as he will face a harsher penalty because of his ethnicity, a court heard. Lawrence Akhime, 48, allegedly took part in a swindle which fleeced 400 victims across America. Akhime has British and Nigerian passports with no ties or connections to the US, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard. Adam Payter, for the US goverment, said: ‘The letters told the victims that they were…