BANKING

France to Extradite BCCI Figure: An appeals court in France has approved the extradition to the United States of a former official of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. Seyed Ziauddin Ali Akbar, 47, was the director of BCCI’s treasury operations until 1986. He was arrested last September at a hotel in Calais for illegal entry into France. He is wanted in the United States on money-laundering and drug trafficking charges. The Price Waterhouse accounting firm contended that Akbar covered up losses of almost $1 billion at the bank from 1982 to 1986. Akbar denies the allegation.