LONDON (AP) -- A British lawyer accused in the United States of helping a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary bribe Nigerian officials for construction projects has begun his fight against extradition in a London court.

Federal prosecutors in Houston, Texas say 61-year-old Jeffrey Tesler helped steer bribe money from Kellogg, Brown & Root LLC to officials of the Nigerian government to win more than $6 billion in contracts.

Tesler's lawyer argued Monday that he should not be extradited because the alleged crimes did not have a substantial link to the U.S. Attorney Bill Clegg says Tesler operated from London, through a company registered in Gibraltar, and the alleged bribes were paid into Swiss bank accounts.

The hearing continues.